German · Food & Drink

"Cucumber" in German: Gurke

die Gurke

Say it: GOOR-kuhfeminine · die Gurkenoun/ˈɡʊʁkə/

Cucumber in German is die Gurke. Say eine Gurke kaufen or Gurkensalat. Pickled cucumbers are oft Gewürzgurken or saure Gurken.

Grocery list

Kauf bitte noch eine Gurke.
Please buy one more cucumber.
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How to pronounce Gurke

Say it

GOOR-kuh

/ˈɡʊʁkə/

GOOR-kuh. Soft u as oo. Soft final e.

"Cucumber" in German: quick reference

GermanEnglish
die Gurkecucumber

Main noun.

eine Gurkea cucumber

Shopping.

Gurkensalatcucumber salad

Side dish.

Gewürzgurkenpickles

Jarred cucumbers.

How to use Gurke in real life

  1. 1Grocery list

    Kauf bitte noch eine Gurke.

    Please buy one more cucumber.

    Eine Gurke.

  2. 2Kitchen

    Ich schneide die Gurke für den Salat.

    I'm cutting the cucumber for the salad.

    Die Gurke as object.

  3. 3Snack

    Eine kalte Gurke schmeckt im Sommer super.

    A cold cucumber tastes great in summer.

    Eine … Gurke.

Mistakes English speakers make with Gurke

Incorrect: der Gurke

Correct: die Gurke

Gurke is feminine: die.

Incorrect: Ich esse Cucumber.

Correct: Ich esse Gurke. / eine Gurke.

Use Gurke, not English cucumber.

Good to know

Gurkensalat with cream or vinegar is a classic side. Calling someone eine Gurke can be playful slang for an odd person—context matters. In shops, Gurke means the fresh vegetable.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Building a salad together

  1. ChatPal

    Brauchen wir Tomaten und eine Gurke?

    Do we need tomatoes and a cucumber?

  2. You

    Ja. Die Gurke sollte knackig sein.

    Yes. The cucumber should be crunchy.

  3. ChatPal

    Schale dranlassen?

    Leave the peel on?

  4. You

    Ja. Bei der Gurke schmeckt die Schale okay.

    Yes. On the cucumber the peel tastes fine.

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"Cucumber" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Cucumber" in German

How do you say cucumber?

Die Gurke.

Gender?

Feminine: die Gurke.

Cucumber salad?

Gurkensalat.

Pickles?

Often Gewürzgurken.

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