das  Fett

A1

Estimated CEFR level.

/fɛt/

🧈 What exactly is "das Fett"?

The word "das Fett" primarily refers to an organic substance. It has several meanings:

• Biochemical/Culinary: A substance found in animal tissue and plant seeds, insoluble in water, serving as energy storage. It's one of the three main nutrients (alongside carbohydrates and proteins). Example: "Butter und Öl enthalten viel Fett." (Butter and oil contain a lot of fat.)
• Physical: The adipose tissue stored in the human or animal body. Example: "Er hat über den Winter etwas Fett angesetzt." (He put on some fat over the winter.)
• Technical: Lubricant, often mineral oil-based. Example: "Die Fahrradkette braucht mal wieder Fett." (The bicycle chain needs grease again.)
• Colloquial (dated, for 'printing'): Bold print or bold type. Example: "Bitte diesen Satz in Fett setzen." (Please set this sentence in bold.) (Here, "Fett" is often used adjectivally: "fett drucken" - *to print in bold*).

🚨 Attention: The adjective "fett" (fat, thick, cool) is used and declined differently than the noun "das Fett". Colloquially, you might hear "Das ist ja voll Fett!", meaning "That's really cool/awesome!". Here, the adjective is used almost like a noun but doesn't refer to the substance.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📖 Grammar in Detail: Das Fett

"Fett" is a noun with the neuter article "das". It's usually used only in the singular when referring to the substance in general. The plural "die Fette" is mainly used in chemistry or nutritional science to denote different types of fats.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural - Technical Usage

Example Sentences

1. Das Fett in der Pfanne ist heiß. (The fat in the pan is hot.)
2. Der Geruch des Fettes zog durchs Haus. (The smell of the fat wafted through the house.)
3. Mit dem Fett sollte man sparsam umgehen. (One should use the fat sparingly.)
4. Ich sehe das Fett am Fleischrand. (I see the fat on the edge of the meat.)
5. Gesättigte und ungesättigte Fette sind unterschiedlich gesund. (Saturated and unsaturated fats have different health effects.)

💡 When to use "Fett"?

"Das Fett" is used in various contexts:

• Nutrition & Cooking: Discussing fats as nutrients, cooking fat, oil, butter, etc. ("Wenig Fett essen" - *eat little fat*, "Fett zum Anbraten" - *fat for frying*).
• Biology & Medicine: Referring to body fat, fat cells, fat metabolism ("Körperfettanteil messen" - *measure body fat percentage*, "Fett abbauen" - *reduce fat*).
• Technology: As a lubricant ("Lagerfett" - *bearing grease*, "Kugellager fetten" - *to grease ball bearings*).
• Colloquial (Adjective!): As mentioned, "fett" as an adjective can mean "great" or "awesome" ("fette Party" - *awesome party*, "fettes Auto" - *cool car*). This is not the noun "das Fett".
• Idioms:
  • "Ins Fettnäpfchen treten" (lit. "to step into the grease bowl"): To put your foot in it, to make a blunder, to unintentionally offend someone or create an awkward situation.
  • "Sein Fett wegbekommen/wegkriegen" (lit. "to get one's fat away"): To get one's just deserts, to receive due punishment or criticism.

Potential confusion mainly arises with the adjective "fett". The noun is always neuter: das Fett.

🧠 Mnemonics for "das Fett"

For the article: Think of "das Essen" (the food) or "das Element" (the element). Fat is an important part of das Essen and almost like its own element in cooking or the body. Both are neuter, just like das Fett.

For the meaning: The German word "Fett" sounds very similar to the English word "fat". They both describe the same substance.

🔄 Similar & Opposite: Synonyms and Antonyms

⚠️ Similar words: Be careful not to confuse the noun "das Fett" with the adjective "fett", although they are closely related. Their grammatical function is different.

😂 A "Fat" Joke

German: Fragt der Arzt den Patienten: "Haben Sie Übergewicht?"
Antwortet der Patient: "Nein, Herr Doktor, ich habe es nur dabei."

English: The doctor asks the patient: "Are you overweight?" (lit. "Do you have overweight?")
The patient replies: "No, Doctor, I just have it with me."

🎤 Fat in Verse

German:
Ob Butter, Öl, im Steak, im Speck,
das Fett hat seinen Zweck.
Mal lecker, mal zu viel,
es bleibt ein heikles Spiel.
Im Körper gut, doch nur dosiert,
sonst ist man schnell beschwert.
Drum Augen auf beim Schmaus,
sonst wird ein Polster draus!

English:
Be it butter, oil, in steak, in bacon,
The fat serves its own reason.
Sometimes tasty, sometimes too much,
it remains a tricky touch.
Good in the body, but only measured right,
or else you'll feel the weight's might.
So watch out when you feast,
or padding will be increased!

❓ Who am I? A Fat Riddle

German:
Ich bin im Essen, mach es schmackhaft,
bin Energiespeicher, voller Kraft.
Zu viel von mir ist nicht gesund,
man findet mich im Körper rund.
Als Schmiere halt' ich Technik fit.
Was bin ich? Na, rate mit!

English:
I'm in food, I make it tasty,
I'm energy storage, quite hasty.
Too much of me is not so good,
I'm found in bodies, understood.
As grease, I keep machines all right.
What am I? Guess with all your might!

Solution: das Fett (fat)

🧐 More than just Calories: Trivia

• Word Origin: The word "Fett" comes from the Old High German "feizit", meaning "fat, well-nourished". It's closely related to the verb "feisten" (to fatten up).
• Chemical Diversity: There are many different types of Fette (lipids), e.g., saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, which have different effects on health.
• Cultural Significance: Historically, Fett was a sign of wealth and good nutrition in many cultures because it is energy-dense. Today, it is often viewed more critically in Western societies.