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German vocabulary · Beginner

How do you say "turtle" in German?

die Schildkröte

Noun Feminine

In German, "turtle" is die Schildkröte.

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Pronunciation

SHILT-krö-tuh. The 'ö' sounds like 'oe' in 'toe'. Stress on the first syllable.

Grammar notes

Die Schildkröte is feminine. The plural is die Schildkröten.

Example sentence

Die Schildkröte bewegt sich langsam.

The turtle moves slowly.

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How to remember die Schildkröte

Schildkröte literally means 'shield toad'. Schild is shield and Kröte is toad. Medieval Germans saw the shell as a shield, making this a poetic way to name the creature.

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Questions about die Schildkröte

How do you say "turtle" in German?

In German, "turtle" is die Schildkröte. It is a noun.

Is die Schildkröte masculine or feminine?

Die Schildkröte is feminine. The plural is die Schildkröten.

How is die Schildkröte used in a sentence?

Use die Schildkröte as you would use the equivalent noun in English. For example: Die Schildkröte bewegt sich langsam. (The turtle moves slowly.).

Where can I practice German words for free?

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"Turtle" in other languages

Curated by Callan Ratcliffe

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