German · Nature, Animals & Weather

"Squirrel" in German: Eichhörnchen

das Eichhörnchen

Say it: IKE-hurn-khenneuter · das Eichhörnchennoun/ˈaɪ̯çˌhœʁnçən/

Squirrel in German is das Eichhörnchen. Say Schau, ein Eichhörnchen! Plural is die Eichhörnchen. People feed them in parks even when signs say not to.

Park bench

Das Eichhörnchen stiehlt meine Nüsse!
The squirrel is stealing my nuts!
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How to pronounce Eichhörnchen

Say it

IKE-hurn-khen

/ˈaɪ̯çˌhœʁnçən/

IKE-hurn-khen. Soft ei as eye. Soft ö like e in her with rounded lips. Soft ch.

"Squirrel" in German: quick reference

GermanEnglish
das Eichhörnchenthe squirrel

Main noun.

ein Eichhörnchena squirrel

Spotting one.

Eichhörnchen fütternto feed squirrels

Park habit (often discouraged).

das Eichhornsquirrel

Shorter rare variant; Eichhörnchen is standard.

How to use Eichhörnchen in real life

  1. 1Park bench

    Das Eichhörnchen stiehlt meine Nüsse!

    The squirrel is stealing my nuts!

    Das Eichhörnchen as subject.

  2. 2Photo

    Wart, ich will das Eichhörnchen fotografieren.

    Wait, I want to photograph the squirrel.

    Das Eichhörnchen as object.

  3. 3Kids

    Mama, da rennt ein Eichhörnchen den Baum hoch!

    Mom, a squirrel is running up the tree!

    Ein Eichhörnchen.

Mistakes English speakers make with Eichhörnchen

Incorrect: der Eichhörnchen

Correct: das Eichhörnchen

Eichhörnchen is neuter: das.

Incorrect: ein Squirrel

Correct: ein Eichhörnchen

Use Eichhörnchen, not English squirrel.

Good to know

City parks are full of bold Eichhörnchen. Feeding them bread is discouraged; nuts are what they actually want. The diminutive -chen makes the word sound cute even when the animal is a little thief.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Watching animals in a city park

  1. ChatPal

    Siehst du das Eichhörnchen auf dem Ast?

    Do you see the squirrel on the branch?

  2. You

    Ja! Das Eichhörnchen hat eine Walnuss.

    Yes! The squirrel has a walnut.

  3. ChatPal

    Soll ich ihm etwas geben?

    Should I give it something?

  4. You

    Lieber nicht. Das Eichhörnchen findet schon Futter.

    Better not. The squirrel will find food.

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"Squirrel" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Squirrel" in German

How do you say squirrel?

Das Eichhörnchen.

Gender?

Neuter: das Eichhörnchen.

Plural?

Die Eichhörnchen.

Pronunciation tip?

IKE-hurn-khen — stress on Eich.

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