das Gemüse
Meaning and Usage
"Das Gemüse" in German refers to vegetables in a general sense. It encompasses all edible plants, including roots, stems, leaves, and flowers, that are cultivated for eating.
Linguistic Analysis
The word "Gemüse" has its roots in Middle High German and Old High German, and it is derived from the word "gemus," which means "edible plant."
Comparisons between German and English
The word "Gemüse" is closely related to the English word "vegetables." Both words refer to edible plants that are part of a balanced diet.
Cultural Context
Germans are known for their love of fresh, seasonal vegetables, and "Gemüse" plays a significant role in their cuisine, including in dishes like "Gemüsesuppe" (vegetable soup) and "gebratenes Gemüse" (roasted vegetables).
Example Sentences
- Ich esse jeden Tag gerne frisches Gemüse. (I enjoy eating fresh vegetables every day.)
- Heute Abend gibt es gedünstetes Gemüse zum Abendessen. (Tonight, we're having steamed vegetables for dinner.)
Memory Tips
Associate "Gemüse" with "green" because many vegetables are green, and this can help you remember that "Gemüse" means "vegetables" in German.
Additional Vocabulary
- die Karotte (carrot)
- die Zucchini (zucchini)
- der Brokkoli (broccoli)
- die Tomate (tomato)
- der Salat (lettuce)
- das Kraut (cabbage)
Gender and Plural (for nouns)
Gender: das (neuter) Plural: die Gemüse
Conjugation (for verbs)
N/A - "Gemüse" is a noun and does not have a verb form.