Bisamratte

muskrat

noun BEE-zahm-rat-te Rare

Origin: from 'Bisam' (musk) + Ratte (rat)

Usage Note

Bisamratte (Ondatra zibethicus) is a North American rodent introduced to Europe that has become common in German waterways. It is semi-aquatic and can cause damage to riverbanks by burrowing. Plural: die Bisamratten.

Examples

"Die Bisamratte schwimmt flink und taucht gut in Teichen und Kanälen."

Natural Translation

The muskrat swims nimbly and dives well in ponds and canals.

Literal Translation

The muskrat swims nimbly and dives well in ponds and canals.

Related Words

Explore German by topic

GermanNow

German Adjective Endings Made Simple

German adjective endings come down to one question, not three tables: does the article already show gender and case? If yes, the adjective stays lazy.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

German Cases Explained Simply (4 Cases)

German has four cases, and each answers one question: wer, wen, wem, wessen. Learn nominative, accusative, dative, and genitive without drowning in charts.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

German Numbers 1–100: Why 21 Is Said Backwards

German numbers 1 to 100 reverse the digits: 21 is einundzwanzig (one-and-twenty). Learn the und rule, the irregulars, and how to hear prices fast.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

German Colors: Names, Shades, and Idioms

German colors are adjectives that take endings — say das rote Auto, not das rot Auto. Get the names, shades, the das-Rot rule, and 14 color idioms.

June 5, 2026 5 min read