Wolf
/vɔlf/masculine
Wolf in German is Wolf, spelled the same as in English. If unsure, use Wolf. Wiktionary also lists Woif and Meister Graubein.
Meaning: animal (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Wolf | /vɔlf/ | masculine |
| Woif | ||
| Meister Graubein | masculine |
Which one should you use?
The English verb to wolf down food is a different word in German, herunterschlingen.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Wolf is masculine. The plural is Wölfe. The genitive singular is des Wolfes, and a shorter form without the e is also used.
How do you pronounce it?
Wolf is pronounced /vɔlf/. The German W sounds like an English v, so it does not sound like the English word.
When do people say it?
The saying Der Wolf im Schafspelz matches the English wolf in sheep's clothing.
Did you know?
- The term Meister Graubein uses Graubein, which literally means 'grey leg' or 'grey bone', to describe the animal's fur.
- In German folklore, wolves are often personified with titles like Meister Graubein, which translates to 'Master Grey Hair' or 'Grey Fur'.
- The German word Wolf is closely related to the Danish ulv and the Gothic wulfs, showing how the word evolved across different Germanic tribes.
Examples in context
- Ist es ein Wolf?Is it a wolf?Ist es ein Wolf asks whether it is a wolf.Tatoeba #7478424 by Yorwba, translation #2549771 by CK
- Ist das ein Wolf?Is that a wolf?Ist das ein Wolf asks about something you are pointing at.Tatoeba #8718054 by foamy, translation #6005627 by mailohilohi
- Ich bin ein Wolf.I'm a wolf.Ich bin ein Wolf uses ein because Wolf is masculine.Tatoeba #10172899 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #10156621 by shekitten
- Der VampirwolfThe vampire wolf
- Diese Wölfe sind wunderschön.These wolves are beautiful.
- 110 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hannah and Julian are watching a nature documentary on TV.
- HannahSiehst du den Wolf dort?Do you see the wolf there?
- JulianJa, der Wolf ist sehr groß.Yes, the wolf is very big.
- HannahEr sieht gefährlich aus.He looks dangerous.
- JulianEin Wolf ist ein wildes Tier.A wolf is a wild animal.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wolf” translations and entries Wolf, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Meister, Wolf, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
