Wurm
/vʊrm/masculine
The German word for "worm" is Wurm.
The word refers to the animal. It is also used in several idiomatic expressions to describe the act of getting information that someone is reluctant to give, such as einem alles aus der Nase ziehen, etwas aus der Nase ziehen or Würmer aus der Nase ziehen.
Meaning: animal (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun is masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
/vʊrm/
When do people say it?
The phrase Hänschen klein ging allein in den Garten, Würmchen zu fangen translates to "Little Hans went alone to the garden, to catch worms."
Did you know?
- In older German texts, Wurm was often used to describe dragons or serpents, not just small invertebrates.
- The German phrase ein Wurm im Kopf haben is sometimes used to describe a persistent, nagging thought or a psychological obsession that one cannot shake.
- In certain German dialects, the phrase Wurm is used as a derogatory term for a person who is seen as spineless, cowardly or insignificant.
Examples in context
- Tom zerquetschte den Wurm.Tom crushed the worm.This sentence is useful for seeing the word Wurm used in the context of crushing the animal.Tatoeba #12183754 by petersauer, translation #12185226 by Miktsoanit
- Er windet sich wie ein Wurm.He writhes like a worm.This sentence shows the word Wurm being used in a simile describing how someone writhes.Tatoeba #1734284 by Esperantostern, translation #1807044 by pne
- Kann ein wurmstichiges Holzhaus wärmeisolierend sein?Can a worm-infested wooden house be insulated against heat loss?This sentence demonstrates an adjective derived from Wurm to describe wood infested with worms.Tatoeba #4572847 by al_ex_an_der, translation #10577261 by Objectivesea
- Der Regenwurm ist für die Bodendurchlüftung sehr wichtig.The earthworm is very important for soil aeration.
- Schau mal, ein Wurm! Wie süß!Look, a worm! How cute!
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felix and Hannah are looking at an old book in a garden.
- FelixSchau mal, ein kleiner Wurm!Look, a little worm!
- HannahOh, ein Wurm in der Erde.Oh, a worm in the soil.
- FelixDer Wurm bewegt sich schnell.The worm is moving fast.
- HannahEr ist wirklich flink.He is really quick.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “worm” translations and entries Wurm, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
