German · Food & Drink

"Ham" in German: Schinken

der Schinken

Say it: SHINK-enmasculine · der Schinkennoun/ˈʃɪŋkn̩/

Ham in German is der Schinken. Say Schinkenwurst is different; sliced breakfast ham is oft gekochter Schinken. At the counter: Hundert Gramm Schinken bitte.

Bakery lunch

Ein Brötchen mit Schinken und Käse bitte.
A roll with ham and cheese please.
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How to pronounce Schinken

Say it

SHINK-en

/ˈʃɪŋkn̩/

SHINK-en. Soft sch; stress SHINK.

"Ham" in German: quick reference

GermanEnglish
der Schinkenham

Core noun.

gekochter Schinkencooked ham

Deli slice.

Rohschinkencured ham

Prosicutto-style.

Schinkenbrotham sandwich / bread with ham

Snack.

How to use Schinken in real life

  1. 1Bakery lunch

    Ein Brötchen mit Schinken und Käse bitte.

    A roll with ham and cheese please.

    Mit Schinken.

  2. 2Deli counter

    Zweihundert Gramm Schinken, dünn geschnitten.

    Two hundred grams of ham, thinly sliced.

    Weight order.

  3. 3Breakfast buffet

    Liegt noch Schinken neben den Eiern?

    Is there still ham next to the eggs?

    Buffet stock.

Mistakes English speakers make with Schinken

Incorrect: die Schinken

Correct: der Schinken

Schinken is masculine: der Schinken.

Incorrect: der Ham

Correct: der Schinken

Use German Schinken.

Good to know

Breakfast plates often include Schinken beside cheese and bread. Speck is smokier belly meat; Schinken is the ham cut. Markets sell both gekochter Schinken and air-dried Rohschinken.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Building sandwiches for a picnic

  1. ChatPal

    Schinken oder Salami für dich?

    Ham or salami for you?

  2. You

    Schinken bitte nicht zu fett.

    Ham please — not too fatty.

  3. ChatPal

    Okay. Ich lege den Schinken aufs Butterbrot.

    Okay. I'll put the ham on the buttered bread.

  4. You

    Und extra Schinken für die zweite Runde.

    And extra ham for the second round.

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"Ham" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Ham" in German

How do you say ham?

Der Schinken.

Cooked ham?

Gekochter Schinken.

Cured ham?

Rohschinken.

Gender?

Masculine: der Schinken.

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