der Brei
porridge / purée
A soft, thick food made from cooked and often mashed grain, fruit, or vegetables.
EXAMPLE
Das Baby bekommt mittags einen Gemüsebrei.
The baby gets a vegetable purée at lunchtime.
der Brei
porridge / mush
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Meanings
der Brei
mush / sludge
A shapeless, tough, or mushy mass made of a substance.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem starken Regen war der Gartenweg ein einziger Brei aus Erde und Wasser.
After the heavy rain, the garden path was just a mush of dirt and water.
um den heißen Brei herumreden
to beat around the bush
To avoid addressing an unpleasant or important matter directly and instead say evasive or irrelevant things.
EXAMPLE
Hör auf, um den heißen Brei herumzureden, und sag mir endlich, was passiert ist!
Stop beating around the bush and finally tell me what happened!
Usage tips
Use in the singular
The word 'Brei' (porridge/mush) is almost always used in the singular because it describes an uncountable mass. The plural form 'Breie' is very rare and is only used when referring to different kinds.
EXAMPLE
Zum Frühstück esse ich gerne einen warmen Brei.
For breakfast, I like to eat a warm porridge.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'um den heißen Brei herumreden' (to beat around the bush) is a fixed structure. It means that someone avoids the real topic and does not get straight to the point.
EXAMPLE
Bitte rede nicht um den heißen Brei herum und sag mir die Wahrheit.
Please don't beat around the bush and tell me the truth.
Typical collocations
In connection with food, 'Brei' (porridge/purée) is often used as the second part of a compound word that names the ingredient. Typical examples are 'Haferbrei' (oatmeal/porridge), 'Grießbrei' (semolina pudding), or 'Kartoffelbrei' (mashed potatoes).
EXAMPLE
Ein warmer Haferbrei mit Früchten ist ein gesundes Frühstück.
A warm oatmeal with fruit is a healthy breakfast.
Context clue
When 'Brei' (mush/sludge) describes a shapeless mass, it often appears in connection with words like 'Matsch' (mud), 'Schnee' (snow), or 'Erde' (soil/dirt). It then describes an unpleasant, thick consistency.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Tauwetter war der Weg ein Brei aus Schnee und Schmutz.
After the thaw, the path was a mush of snow and dirt.
Compare with
Brei vs Mus
purée / mush
„Brei“ and „Mus“ can both refer to a thick, soft food made from fruit. „Brei“ tends to emphasize the soft, thick consistency, while „Mus“ is used for a mass made by deliberately cooking and puréeing fruit or vegetables.
Brei
Die weich gekochten Apfelstücke zerfielen zu einem dicken Brei.
The soft-cooked apple pieces broke down into a thick mush.
Mus
Sie kochte und pürierte die Äpfel zu einem feinen Mus.
She cooked and puréed the apples into a fine apple purée.
In real life
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