Walross

German

Alternative forms
  • Walroß (pre-1996)

Etymology

Via Dutch walrus from an Old Norse source (cf. Danish hvalros). Secondary motivation in German as a compound of Wal (“whale”) +‎ Ross (“horse”).

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈvaːlˌʁɔs/
  • Audio(file)

Noun

Walross n (strong, genitive Walrosses, plural Walrosse or Walrösser, feminine Walrössin)

  1. walrus (Odobenus rosmarus)
    Hyponyms: Walrossbaby, Walrossbulle, Walrossjunges, Walrosskalb, Walrosskuh, Walrossmännchen, Walrossweibchen

Usage notes
  • The plural Walrosse is more common than Walrösser (contrary to the bare word Ross, for which both ways are roughly equally common).

Declension
Declension of Walross [neuter, strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein das Walross die Walrosse, Walrösser
genitive eines des Walrosses der Walrosse, Walrösser
dative einem dem Walross, Walrosse1 den Walrossen, Walrössern
accusative ein das Walross die Walrosse, Walrösser

1Now rare, see notes.

Derived terms

Further reading
  • “Walross” in Duden online
  • “Walross” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
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