die
Butter
🧈 What does "die Butter" mean?
Die Butter refers to butter, a spreadable fat made from the cream of milk (usually cow's milk) by churning. It's a very common food item used for cooking, baking, or as a spread on bread.
There is only this one article (die) for Butter when referring to the food product. There are no common mistakes regarding the article.
📜 Grammar in Detail: Die Butter
Butter is a feminine noun. The article is always die.
Declension
Here's how 'die Butter' changes in the different grammatical cases (Fälle):
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | die Butter | eine Butter (a butter) |
| Genitive (Possessive) | der Butter | einer Butter (of a butter) |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | der Butter | einer Butter (to/for a butter) |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | die Butter | eine Butter (a butter) |
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Butter* | - |
| Genitive | der Butter* | - |
| Dative | den Buttern* | - |
| Accusative | die Butter* | - |
* Note: The plural of Butter is rarely used. People usually talk about Butterstücken (pieces of butter), Buttersorten (types of butter), or use quantities (e.g., zwei Päckchen Butter - two packs of butter).
Example Sentences
- Ich brauche die Butter zum Backen. (I need the butter for baking.)
- Kannst du mir bitte die Butter reichen? (Can you please pass me the butter?)
- Der Geschmack der Butter ist sehr mild. (The taste of the butter is very mild.)
- Ich esse mein Brot am liebsten mit Butter und Salz. (I like eating my bread best with butter and salt.)
💡 How to use "die Butter"?
Die Butter is an everyday word in German.
- As a spread: The most common use is on bread or rolls (das Butterbrot - buttered bread).
- In cooking & baking: Butter is an essential ingredient in many recipes for cakes (Kuchen), sauces (Soßen), or for frying (anbraten).
- Idioms (Redewendungen): There are several German idioms featuring Butter:
- "Alles in Butter" - Everything is alright (literally 'everything in butter').
- "Butter bei die Fische geben" - Get to the point, speak plainly (literally 'put butter to the fish').
- "Sich nicht die Butter vom Brot nehmen lassen" - Don't let anyone push you around, stand up for yourself (literally 'not let the butter be taken from one's bread').
Compared to Margarine (die Margarine), Butter is an animal product, while margarine is usually plant-based.
🧠 Memory Aids for "die Butter"
For the article (die): Imagine a diet where you can only eat delicious golden Butter. The word 'die't helps you remember die Butter.
For the meaning: Think of a butterfly landing gently on a stick of butter. Butterfly sounds a bit like 'Butter'.
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms for Butter
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Streichfett: (Spreadable fat) - A general term, but often used in context.
- Milchfett: (Milk fat) - Technical term for the fat content of milk from which butter is made.
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning)
- Margarine (die): Plant-based spread, often used as a butter alternative.
- Öl (das): (Oil) - Liquid fat, usually plant-based, different consistency and uses.
⚠️ Similar Words
- Buttermilch (die): (Buttermilk) - The liquid left over after churning butter. Not the same as butter!
😂 A Little Joke
DE: Warum hat die Butter die Party verlassen?
Weil sie sich nicht mehr wohlfühlte – alles war zu "geschmolzen"!
EN: Why did the butter leave the party?
Because it didn't feel comfortable anymore – everything was too "melted"! (A pun on feeling 'melted'/overwhelmed)
✍️ Poem about Butter
DE:
Goldgelb und weich, auf frischem Brot,
Die Butter lindert jede Not.
Im Kuchen fein, in Soßen klar,
ist sie fürs Kochen wunderbar.
Aus Milch gemacht, so cremig rein,
Ein Stückchen Glück, muss einfach sein.
EN:
Golden yellow and soft, on fresh bread so nice,
The butter soothes every plight.
In cakes so fine, in sauces clear,
It's wonderful for cooking, dear.
Made from milk, so creamy pure,
A piece of happiness, that's for sure.
❓ Riddle
DE:
Ich komme von der Kuh, doch bin kein Käse breit.
Man streicht mich auf das Brot zur Frühstückszeit.
Im Topf da schmelz' ich schnell, werd' flüssig, gold und klar.
Was bin ich wohl, das ist doch wunderbar?
EN:
I come from the cow, but I'm not cheese, you see.
You spread me on your bread for breakfast, full of glee.
In the pot I melt fast, becoming liquid, gold, and clear.
What am I, isn't it wonderfully dear?
Solution: die Butter (butter)
➕ Other Information
- Word Origin: The German word Butter comes from the Latin butyrum, which in turn originates from Greek.
- Butterbrot: A very typical German word and concept – a slice of bread, usually spread with butter and often with toppings (Belag).
- Types (Sorten): There are different types of butter in Germany, such as Süßrahmbutter (sweet cream butter), Sauerrahmbutter (sour cream butter), or gesalzene Butter (salted butter).
Summary: is it der, die or das Butter?
The correct article for Butter is die. So, it's die Butter.