German · Nature, Animals & Weather
"Does it bite?" in German: Beißt er?
Beißt er?
Note: sie/es depending on the animal's gender
Does it bite in German is Beißt er? Match the animal: Beißt sie? or Beißt es?. Soften: Beißt er manchmal?
Meeting a dog
Süß — Beißt er?Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce Beißt er?
Say it
byst air
/baɪ̯st eːɐ̯/
byst air. Beißt with sharp ss sound; er soft.
"Does it bite?" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Beißt er? | does he bite? Masculine animal (Hund). | Masculine animal (Hund). |
| Beißt sie? | does she bite? Feminine animal (Katze). | Feminine animal (Katze). |
| Beißt es? | does it bite? Neuter / unknown. | Neuter / unknown. |
| Ist er friedlich? | is he friendly? Softer ask. | Softer ask. |
How to use Beißt er? in real life
- 1Meeting a dog
Süß — Beißt er?
Cute — does he bite?
er.
- 2Cat on lap
Beißt sie, wenn man streichelt?
Does she bite when you pet?
sie.
- 3Petting zoo
Das Pony — Beißt es?
The pony — does it bite?
es.
Mistakes English speakers make with Beißt er?
Incorrect: Beißt es ihn? (wrong sense)
Correct: Beißt er?
Ask if the animal bites, not if someone is bitten.
Incorrect: Tut er beißen?
Correct: Beißt er?
Simple present: Beißt er?
Good to know
Owners usually answer Nein, er ist lieb. Asking Beißt er? before you reach out is polite, especially with unfamiliar dogs.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Neighbor's dog
ChatPal
Das ist Bruno.
This is Bruno.
You
Beißt er?
Does he bite?
ChatPal
Nein, nur Laut.
No, just loud.
You
Okay — Beißt er Kinder auch nicht?
Okay — does he not bite kids either?
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Does it bite?" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Does it bite?" in German
How do you say does it bite?
Beißt er? (or sie/es by gender).
Dog default?
Beißt er? — Hund is masculine.
Cat?
Beißt sie?
Friendly alternative?
Ist er friedlich / lieb?
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
