German · Food & Drink
"Spicy" in German: scharf
scharf
Spicy in German is scharf. Say Die Soße ist scharf or zu scharf für mich. Scharf also means sharp for knives and spicy-hot for food.
Restaurant
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How to pronounce scharf
Say it
SHARF
/ʃaʁf/
SHARF. Long-ish a; final f clear.
"Spicy" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| scharf | spicy / sharp Food heat or blade edge. | Food heat or blade edge. |
| scharfe / scharfer / scharfes | spicy (inflected) Before nouns. | Before nouns. |
| zu scharf | too spicy Restaurant feedback. | Restaurant feedback. |
| mild | mild Opposite for food. | Opposite for food. |
How to use scharf in real life
- 1Restaurant
Ist das Curry sehr scharf?
Is the curry very spicy?
Sehr scharf.
- 2Warning
Vorsicht, die Soße ist scharf.
Careful, the sauce is spicy.
Ist scharf.
- 3Order
Ich nehme die scharfe Variante.
I'll take the spicy version.
Scharfe before feminine.
Mistakes English speakers make with scharf
Incorrect: ein scharf Essen
Correct: ein scharfes Essen
Before neuter nouns use scharfes.
Incorrect: spicy (English)
Correct: scharf
Use scharf for chili heat.
Good to know
German 'scharf' levels are milder than many Asian restaurants' — always ask Wie scharf? if you're unsure. Knives are also scharf.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Ordering Thai food
ChatPal
Magst du es scharf?
Do you like it spicy?
You
Mittel. Zu scharf wird schwer.
Medium. Too spicy gets hard.
ChatPal
Okay, nicht die schärfste Stufe.
Okay, not the spiciest level.
You
Danke. Scharf ja, extrem nein.
Thanks. Spicy yes, extreme no.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Spicy" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Spicy" in German
Spicy?
Scharf.
Too spicy?
Zu scharf.
Also sharp?
Yes — knives are scharf too.
Mild?
Mild.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
