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

• Atlantisches Walross (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus)
• Pazifisches Walross (Odobenus rosmarus divergens)
• Walrossbart
• Walrosskolonie
• Walrossschädel
• Walrossskelett
• Walrosszahn

 

Further reading

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