Marienkäfer

German

ein Marienkäfer

Etymology

From Maria (given name) +‎ Käfer (“beetle”). Compare English ladybug, where “lady” refers to the Virgin Mary.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /maˈʁiː.ənˌkɛː.fɐ/ (standard; used naturally in western Germany and Switzerland)
• IPA^(key): /-keː-/ (overall more common; particularly northern and eastern regions)

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: Ma‧ri‧en‧kä‧fer

Noun

Marienkäfer m (genitive Marienkäfers, plural Marienkäfer)

1. ladybug, ladybird

Synonyms

Some local traditions also use Frauenkäferl, from Frau (“lady”), i.e., “Our Lady Mary” and Käferl (diminutive of Käfer).

Further reading

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