das  Brot

A1

Estimated CEFR level.

/bʁoːt/

🍞 What does "das Brot" mean?

Das Brot (noun, neuter) refers to a staple food made primarily from ground grain (Mehl - flour), water (Wasser), and usually a leavening agent (Triebmittel - like yeast or sourdough) by baking (backen). It's a fundamental food in many cultures worldwide, especially in Germany, known for its wide variety (Vielfalt) of bread types.

There is only one article for Brot: das. It is always neuter.

Example: Zum Frühstück esse ich gerne ein frisches Brot mit Marmelade. (For breakfast, I like to eat fresh bread with jam.)

🧐 Grammar of "das Brot" in Detail

The word "Brot" is neuter, so it uses the article "das". Here is the declension (Deklination):

💡 Example Sentences

• Nominative Singular: Das Brot liegt auf dem Tisch. (The bread is lying on the table.)
• Genitive Singular: Der Geruch des Brotes erfüllt die Küche. (The smell of the bread fills the kitchen.)
• Dative Singular: Ich gebe dem Brot noch etwas Zeit zum Abkühlen. (I give the bread some more time to cool down.)
• Accusative Singular: Er schneidet das Brot in Scheiben. (He cuts the bread into slices.)
• Nominative Plural: Die Brote sind frisch aus dem Ofen. (The loaves of bread are fresh from the oven.)
• Accusative Plural: Wir kaufen heute drei verschiedene Brote. (We are buying three different types of bread today.)

🗣️ How to Use "das Brot"?

"Brot" is a very common word in German.

• Everyday Language: Used when talking about buying, baking, eating, or sharing bread. Example: "Reichst du mir bitte das Brot?" (Could you please pass me the bread?)
• Metaphorically: The expression "sein tägliches Brot verdienen" means to earn one's living / daily bread. Example: "Er arbeitet hart, um sein tägliches Brot zu verdienen." (He works hard to earn his daily bread.)
• Types of Bread: Often used in compound words to name varieties: Weißbrot (white bread), Schwarzbrot (dark rye bread), Vollkornbrot (whole grain bread), Mischbrot (mixed-flour bread), etc.
• Meals: Sometimes "Brot" refers to a meal, especially dinner ("Abendbrot" - literally evening bread) or a snack ("Pausenbrot" - break time bread/snack).

⚠️ Be careful: Sometimes "Laib" (loaf) is used synonymously, but "Laib" refers to the shape (a whole loaf of bread - ein Laib Brot), while "Brot" refers to the food in general.

🧠 Mnemonics for "das Brot"

Remembering the article "das":

Imagine DAShing to the bakery for das Brot. Or think of basic food items often being neuter: das Wasser (water), das Salz (salt), das Mehl (flour), and so das Brot.

Remembering the meaning "bread":

"Brot" sounds a bit like the English word "brought". Imagine the bread being brought to the table. Or focus on the starting sound: Bread / Brot.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for Brot

Synonyms (similar meaning):

• Laib (der): Mostly refers to a whole, uncut loaf of bread. (ein Laib Brot - a loaf of bread)
• Wecken (der) / Weckle (das) (regional): Often used for smaller loaves or rolls.
• Stulle (die) (regional, Northern Germany): A slice of bread, often topped.
• Bemme (die) (regional, Eastern Germany): A slice of bread, often topped.
• Nahrungsmittel (das), Lebensmittel (das): General terms for foodstuff, groceries.

Antonyms (opposite meaning):

There isn't a direct antonym. Contextually, the opposite could be:

• Hunger / Nahrungsmangel: The state of having no bread (or food).
• Kuchen (der) / Süßgebäck (das): Often seen as the opposite of savory bread, meaning cake / pastries, although both are baked goods.

Similar Words:

• Brötchen (das): A small, individual bread roll, often eaten for breakfast. Not the same as a large loaf of Brot.

😂 A Little Joke

DE: Warum hat das Brot Schluss gemacht?
Es war nicht mehr frisch genug für die Beziehung!

EN: Why did the bread break up?
It wasn't fresh enough for the relationship anymore!

✒️ Poem about Bread

Ode an das Brot

Oh, du gutes, braunes Brot,
\Hilfst uns täglich aus der Not.
\Mit Kruste knusprig, innen weich,
\Machst uns satt und glücklich gleich.
\Ob mit Butter, Wurst, ob pur,
\Du bist Teil der Esskultur.
\Vom Bäcker frisch, welch ein Genuss,
\Ein Dank an dich, zum Schluss!

--- Translation ---

Ode to Bread

Oh, you good, brown bread,
\Helping us daily out of need.
\With crust so crispy, inside soft,
\Making us full and happy aloft.
\With butter, sausage, or just plain,
\You are part of food's domain.
\Fresh from the baker, what delight,
\A thank you to you, shining bright!

❓ Riddle Time

DE:
Ich habe eine Kruste, doch kein Tier bin ich.
\Ich komme aus dem Ofen, heiß und sicherlich.
\Man schneidet mich in Scheiben, isst mich früh und spät.
\Aus Mehl und Wasser bin ich, wie's im Rezeptbuch steht.

Was bin ich?

EN:
I have a crust, but I'm not an animal.
\I come from the oven, hot and actual.
\I'm cut into slices, eaten early and late.
\From flour and water I'm made, as recipes state.

What am I?
... Das Brot (Bread)

💡 Interesting Facts about Brot

• Word Compounds (Komposita): German loves compound words! Examples with Brot: Brotkasten (bread box), Brotmesser (bread knife), Brotscheibe (slice of bread), Abendbrot (evening meal, literally evening bread), Pausenbrot (packed lunch/snack for break time), Vollkornbrot (whole grain bread), Weißbrot (white bread), Schwarzbrot (dark rye bread), Knäckebrot (crispbread), Brotteig (bread dough), Brotkrümel (breadcrumb).
• Cultural Significance: Bread (Brot) holds high importance in Germany. There are over 3,000 officially registered types of bread. German bakers (Bäcker) take great pride in this diversity.
• Idioms: "Unter dem Pantoffel stehen" (to be under the thumb) supposedly originates from the wife historically distributing the bread (Pantoffel = old word for loaf). "Brotlose Kunst" (breadless art) refers to an activity that doesn't earn money.