die  Brühe

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈbʁyːə/

🍲 What exactly is 'die Brühe'?

The German word die Brühe has several meanings:

• Culinary: The most common meaning is a clear or slightly cloudy liquid obtained by simmering meat, bones, fish, or vegetables in water. It serves as a base for soups, sauces, or is consumed on its own. Example: a hot Hühnerbrühe (chicken broth) for a cold.
• Colloquial (often derogatory): A thin, watery liquid, especially coffee or tea that is perceived as too weak. Example: "Dieser Kaffee ist ja eine dünne Brühe!" (This coffee is just thin broth!).
• Colloquial (negative): A dirty, murky liquid or slurry. Example: "Nach dem Regen stand eine braune Brühe auf der Straße." (After the rain, there was brown muck/broth on the street.).

🚨 Pay attention to the context to understand the correct meaning!

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of 'die Brühe' in Detail

Die Brühe is a feminine noun. The plural is die Brühen.

📝 A Little Taste: Examples

• Die heiße Brühe tat meiner Kehle gut.
  (The hot broth felt good on my throat.)
• Der Geschmack der Brühe war ausgezeichnet.
  (The taste of the broth was excellent.)
• Ich fügte der Brühe noch etwas Salz hinzu.
  (I added some more salt to the broth.)
• Kannst du bitte die Brühe umrühren?
  (Can you please stir the broth?)
• Verschiedene Brühen bildeten die Basis für das Menü.
  (Various broths formed the basis for the menu.)
• Der Koch war stolz auf den Geschmack der Brühen.
  (The chef was proud of the taste of the broths.)
• Mit diesen Brühen kann man viele Gerichte verfeinern.
  (With these broths, you can refine many dishes.)
• Wir haben heute drei verschiedene Brühen gekocht.
  (We cooked three different broths today.)

💡 How to Use 'die Brühe' Correctly

• In cooking: As a base for soups (e.g., Nudelsuppe mit Hühnerbrühe - noodle soup with chicken broth), sauces, or for cooking vegetables and meat. You might hear Gemüsebrühe (vegetable broth), Fleischbrühe (meat broth), Knochenbrühe (bone broth), etc.
• As a drink: Clear broth is consumed plain, especially when sick or to warm up.
• Figuratively (negative): When talking about poorly made, watery coffee or tea ("Was für eine Brühe!" - What kind of weak stuff is this!) or about dirty water ("in der braunen Brühe stehen" - to stand in the brown muck/sludge).
• Idiom: "In der eigenen Brühe schmoren" (literally: to stew in one's own broth) means to let someone deal with their problems alone or face the consequences of their actions.

Confusion is rare as the context usually makes the meaning clear. The words Bouillon and Fond are more specific culinary terms, while Brühe is the more general term.

🧠 Mnemonics for 'die Brühe'

Article Mnemonic: Most German nouns ending in -e are feminine (die), and die Brühe fits this pattern perfectly.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine someone saying "*Brew* me some hot *broth*!" The sound 'Brew-eh' is similar to Brühe.

🔄 Similar & Opposite: Synonyms and Antonyms

⚠️ Watch out, don't confuse!

Although similar, in culinary contexts, Brühe, Bouillon, and Fond often denote slightly different concentrations and uses.

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Ober den Gast: "Wie fanden Sie die Brühe?"
Gast: "Nur durch Zufall! Ich habe unter dem Salatblatt nachgesehen."

Translation:

The waiter asks the guest: "How did you find the broth?"
Guest: "Purely by accident! I looked under the lettuce leaf."

✒️ An Ode to Broth

Die Brühe dampft im Teller heiß,
vertreibt die Kälte, sanft und leis.
Ob klar, ob trüb, ob mit Gemüse fein,
sie wärmt die Seele, schenkt wohl sein.
Mal ist sie Kraft, mal Trost im Nu,
die gute alte Brühe, immerzu!

Translation:

The broth steams hot within the plate,
Drives off the cold, gentle and late.
Whether clear or cloudy, with veggies fine,
It warms the soul, brings well-being divine.
Sometimes it's strength, sometimes solace anew,
The good old broth, forever true!

❓ Little Riddle

Ich bin flüssig, oft heiß und klar,
manchmal trüb, das ist wahr.
Aus Knochen, Fleisch, Gemüse gemacht,
wer hat an mich gedacht?

Translation:

I am liquid, often hot and clear,
Sometimes cloudy, that is true, my dear.
Made from bones, meat, or vegetables bright,
Who thought of me with all their might?

(Solution: die Brühe / the broth)

🌐 Other Information

Word Origin: The word "Brühe" derives from the Old High German "bruoen", meaning "to scald" or "to simmer/boil". It is closely related to the English word "brew".

Cultural Note: In many cultures, a nourishing broth (eine stärkende Brühe) is a traditional remedy for colds and recovery. Chicken broth (die Hühnerbrühe) is particularly famous in this regard.