die
Petersilie
🌿 What exactly is Petersilie?
Die Petersilie (Petroselinum crispum), known in English as parsley, is a species of flowering plant in the family Apiaceae. It's globally known and popular as a culinary herb (Küchenkraut) used for seasoning and garnishing many dishes. There are mainly two varieties: curly parsley (krause Petersilie) and flat-leaf parsley (glatte Petersilie, also called Italian parsley).
The word "Petersilie" in German is always feminine, so the article is consistently "die". There are no other articles or meanings for this word.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ie → almost always feminine.
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Petersilie
The noun "Petersilie" is feminine. Here is its declension:
Declension Singular
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | eine | Petersilie |
| Genitive | der | einer | Petersilie |
| Dative | der | einer | Petersilie |
| Accusative | die | eine | Petersilie |
Declension Plural
The plural of Petersilie ("die Petersilien") is rarely used. Usually, people refer to the plant or herb as a whole or in uncountable quantities ("viel Petersilie" - much parsley). If referring to different types or individual plants, the plural is possible.
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | - | Petersilien |
| Genitive | der | - | Petersilien |
| Dative | den | - | Petersilien |
| Accusative | die | - | Petersilien |
Example Sentences
- Ich brauche frische Petersilie für die Suppe.
I need fresh parsley for the soup. - Hast du noch eine Petersilie im Garten?
Do you still have a parsley plant in the garden? (Here, 'eine Petersilie' likely refers to a single plant) - Der Geschmack der Petersilie passt gut zu Kartoffeln.
The taste of the parsley goes well with potatoes. - Gib bitte noch etwas gehackte Petersilie über den Salat.
Please add some chopped parsley to the salad.
🥣 How to use Petersilie?
Die Petersilie is a real all-rounder in the kitchen (Küche):
- Seasoning (Würzen): It adds a fresh, slightly tart flavour (Aroma) to soups (Suppen), sauces (Soßen), stews (Eintöpfen), salads (Salaten), meat (Fleisch) and fish dishes (Fischgerichten).
- Garnishing (Garnieren): Chopped or as a whole sprig, it's often used to decorate dishes (Speisen).
- Pesto: Flat-leaf parsley (Glatte Petersilie) is a popular ingredient for pesto variations.
- Health (Gesundheit): Parsley contains a lot of Vitamin C and other nutrients (Nährstoffe).
In common language, "Petersilie" almost exclusively refers to the culinary herb. People often say "ein Bund Petersilie" (a bunch of parsley) or "gehackte Petersilie" (chopped parsley).
🧠 Mnemonics for Petersilie
Article Mnemonic: Think of a pretty plant. Many feminine nouns in German end in -e, just like Petersilie. Imagine Queen Elizabeth (feminine 'die') demanding 'die Petersilie!' for her tea (even though it's weird, it helps link 'die').
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine your friend Peter is being silly (Peter-silie) by putting the green herb everywhere – on his head, on the dog... Peter's silly herb is parsley.
🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms (regional or dated)
- Peterle (especially Southern German)
- Peterling
- Gartenäppich
- Bittersilche
Antonyms
There isn't a direct antonym for a culinary herb. At best, one could mention herbs with contrasting flavors, e.g., sweet herbs (like mint) or very spicy ones (like chili), but these aren't true antonyms.
Similar, but different herbs (Risk of confusion?)
- Koriander (Cilantro/Coriander): Looks similar, especially to flat-leaf parsley, but has a very different taste, often described as "soapy".
- Kerbel (Chervil): Has finer leaves and an anise-like flavor.
- Liebstöckel (Lovage): Has larger, darker leaves and a very intense, savory flavor often compared to Maggi seasoning (hence its nickname Maggikraut).
😄 A Little Joke
Warum hat die Petersilie nie Streit?
Weil sie immer alles glatt bügelt!
Why does parsley never argue?
Because it always smooths things over! (This is a pun on "glatte Petersilie" - flat-leaf/smooth parsley, and "glattbügeln" which means to iron out or smooth over disagreements).
✍️ Poem about Parsley
Grün und kraus, mal glatt und fein,
so muss die Petersilie sein.
In Suppe, Soß', auf Kartoffelbrei,
bringt sie Geschmack und Frische bei.
Ein kleiner Zweig als Zierde obenauf,
so nimmt das gute Essen seinen Lauf.
Green and curly, sometimes flat and fine,
That's how parsley ought to shine.
In soup, in sauce, on mashed potato spread,
It brings flavour and freshness instead.
A little sprig as garnish high,
Lets the delicious meal drift by.
❓ Riddle Time
Ich bin grün, doch kein Frosch im Teich.
Ich würze Speisen, mach sie reich.
Mal kraus, mal glatt ist mein Gewand,
in vielen Küchen wohlbekannt.
Wer bin ich?
Lösung: Die Petersilie
I am green, but not a frog in the pond.
I season dishes, make flavours respond.
Sometimes curly, sometimes flat is my attire,
Known in many kitchens, sparking culinary fire.
What am I?
Solution: Parsley (Die Petersilie)
💡 More about Petersilie
Word Origin (Etymology)
The German word "Petersilie" comes from the Greek word petrosélinon (πετροσέλινον), which means something like "rock celery" (pétra = rock, sélinon = celery/wild celery). It entered German via the Latin petroselinum.
Varieties
- Krause Petersilie (Curly Parsley): Has tightly curled leaves, often used as a garnish because it looks more decorative. Its flavor is somewhat milder.
- Glatte Petersilie (Flat-leaf Parsley): Has flat leaves resembling cilantro. Its flavor is more intense and is often preferred in Mediterranean cooking.
- Wurzelpetersilie (Hamburg Parsley / Root Parsley): A variety where the turnip-like root is used rather than the leaves, often in soups and stews.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Petersilie?
The word "Petersilie" is always feminine. Therefore, the correct article is exclusively die Petersilie.