A German snack-stand dish consisting of a fried or deep-fried boiled sausage or bratwurst that is sliced and served with a special tomato sauce (curry ketchup) and curry powder.
example
Wenn ich in Berlin bin, esse ich immer eine Currywurst mit Pommes.
When I'm in Berlin, I always eat a currywurst with fries.
Usage tips
Word composition
The word is simple in structure and very direct: it combines 'Curry' (curry), the spice that gives the sauce its name, and 'Wurst' (sausage), the main ingredient.
EXAMPLE
Der Name „Currywurst“ beschreibt das Gericht perfekt.
The name 'Currywurst' (currywurst) describes the dish perfectly.
Cultural context
The currywurst is more than just a dish; it is a cultural staple and one of the most popular snack-stand foods in Germany. It has iconic status especially in Berlin and the Ruhr region.
EXAMPLE
Für viele Touristen gehört der Besuch einer Currywurstbude zu einer Deutschlandreise dazu.
For many tourists, visiting a currywurst stand is part of a trip to Germany.
Typical collocations
When ordering a currywurst, you are often asked whether you want it 'mit oder ohne Darm' (with or without casing). The most popular side dish is 'Pommes' (fries).
EXAMPLE
Ich hätte gern eine Currywurst mit Pommes, bitte.
I'd like a currywurst with fries, please.
Compare with
confusable
Currywurst vs Bratwurst
bratwurst
'Bratwurst' and 'Currywurst' can easily be confused because a currywurst often uses a fried sausage. 'Bratwurst' mainly refers to the sausage itself, which is fried or grilled. It can come in a roll, on a plate, or from the grill. 'Currywurst' refers to a prepared snack-stand dish: the sausage is usually sliced and served with curry sauce and curry powder. In short: the bratwurst is the sausage; the currywurst is the dish with sauce.
Currywurst
Nach der Arbeit bestellt mein Nachbar eine Currywurst mit Pommes.
After work, my neighbor orders a currywurst with fries.
Bratwurst
Beim Sommerfest legt Tom eine Bratwurst auf den Grill.
At the summer festival, Tom puts a bratwurst on the grill.