German · Food & Drink

"Onion" in German: Zwiebel

die Zwiebel

Say it: TSVEE-belfeminine · die Zwiebelnoun/ˈtsvibəl/

Onion in German is die Zwiebel. Plural is Zwiebeln. Soft kitchen talk starts countless recipes with Zwiebeln anbraten.

Cooking start

Schneide zuerst eine Zwiebel fein.
First finely chop an onion.
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How to pronounce Zwiebel

Say it

TSVEE-bel

/ˈtsvibəl/

TSVEE-bel. Soft z as ts, long ie, clear bel. Feminine: die Zwiebel.

"Onion" in German: quick reference

GermanEnglish
die Zwiebelthe onion

Core noun.

die Zwiebelnthe onions

Plural.

Zwiebeln anbratensauté onions

Cooking step.

Frühlingszwiebelspring onion

Related type.

How to use Zwiebel in real life

  1. 1Cooking start

    Schneide zuerst eine Zwiebel fein.

    First finely chop an onion.

    Eine Zwiebel.

  2. 2Shopping

    Wir brauchen noch drei Zwiebeln.

    We still need three onions.

    Zwiebeln plural.

  3. 3Crying while cutting

    Die Zwiebel macht meine Augen nass.

    The onion is making my eyes wet.

    Die Zwiebel.

Mistakes English speakers make with Zwiebel

Incorrect: der Zwiebel

Correct: die Zwiebel

Zwiebel is feminine.

Incorrect: Onion bitte

Correct: Zwiebel / Zwiebeln bitte

Use German.

Good to know

Zwiebeln open almost every savory German pan. Soft cooks rinse knives or light a candle against tears. Supermarket bags sell Zwiebeln by the kilo.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Starting a stew

  1. ChatPal

    Hast du schon die Zwiebel geschnitten?

    Have you already cut the onion?

  2. You

    Ja. Die Zwiebel ist in der Pfanne.

    Yes. The onion is in the pan.

  3. ChatPal

    Noch eine Zwiebel wäre gut.

    One more onion would be good.

  4. You

    Hole ich. Ohne Zwiebel schmeckt's flach.

    I'll get it. Without onion it tastes flat.

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"Onion" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Onion" in German

Gender?

Feminine: die Zwiebel.

Plural?

Die Zwiebeln.

Spring onion?

Frühlingszwiebel.

How do you say sauté onions?

Zwiebeln anbraten.

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