Hamsterrad

German

Etymology

From Hamster (“hamster”) +‎ Rad (“wheel”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [ˈhamstɐˌʁaːt]
  • Audio:(file)
  • Rhymes: -aːt, -at

Noun

Hamsterrad n (strong, genitive Hamsterrades or Hamsterrads, plural Hamsterräder, diminutive Hamsterrädchen n)

  1. (literal) hamster wheel (circular cage for a small rodent, which rotates vertically as the animal runs at the bottom)
    Synonym: Laufrad
  2. (figurative) hamster wheel, rat race (situation of hectic, repetitive activity conducted under pressure and with little sense of fulfilment or progress)
    • 2022 June 30 (last accessed), “Archived copy”, in permovi-coaching.de‎[1], archived from the original on 5 July 2022:
      Von innen sieht ein Hamsterrad auch aus wie eine Karriereleiter!
      From the inside, a hamster wheel also looks like a career ladder!

Declension

Declension of Hamsterrad [neuter, strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein das Hamsterrad die Hamsterräder
genitive eines des Hamsterrades, Hamsterrads der Hamsterräder
dative einem dem Hamsterrad, Hamsterrade1 den Hamsterrädern
accusative ein das Hamsterrad die Hamsterräder

1Now rare, see notes.

Further reading

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