Maulwurf

German

Etymology

From Middle High German mūlwurf, mūlwerf, which is composed of mūl (“mouth”) (see Maul) and wurf (“throwing”) (see werfen).

This is a folk etymological reinterpretation of the earlier term moltwerf, from late Old High German mul(t)wurf, which actually meant "earth(up)thrower," the first element from molta (“earth, dust”) (see Molte). Thus, the original word referred to the mole as a creature that throws up piles of earth. More at English mouldwarp.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmaʊ̯lˌvʊʁf/

• Audio:

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• Audio (Austria):

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• Hyphenation: Maul‧wurf
• Rhymes: -ʊʁf

Noun

Maulwurf m (strong, genitive Maulwurfes or Maulwurfs, plural Maulwürfe, feminine Maulwürfin)

1. mole (small, burrowing insectivore of the family Talpidae)
2. (figurative) mole (internal spy)

   Synonyms: U-Boot, Spitzel

Declension

Declension of Maulwurf [masculine, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Maulwurf	die	Maulwürfe
genitive	eines	des	Maulwurfes, Maulwurfs	der	Maulwürfe
dative	einem	dem	Maulwurf, Maulwurfe1	den	Maulwürfen
accusative	einen	den	Maulwurf	die	Maulwürfe

¹Now rare, see notes.

Related terms

• Maulwurfhügel, Maulwurfsgrille
• Schattenwurf, Weitwurf

Further reading

• “Maulwurf” in Deutsches Wörterbuch von Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm, 16 vols., Leipzig 1854–1961.
• “Maulwurf” in Duden online
• “Maulwurf” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache