das Fressen
feed
Food for animals, especially when it is given to them or they eat it themselves.
EXAMPLE
Das Fressen für die Hunde steht schon in den Näpfen.
The feed for the dogs is already in their bowls.
das Fressen
feed
das Fressen
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Meanings
das Fressen
slop / grub
A crude or derogatory term for human food.
EXAMPLE
Dieses Fressen kann doch niemand freiwillig essen.
No one could possibly eat this slop willingly.
das Fressen
feeding
The taking in of food, especially by animals; the process of feeding.
EXAMPLE
Beim Fressen lässt sich die Katze nur ungern stören.
The cat does not like being disturbed while feeding.
gefundenes Fressen
a gift
A good opportunity or welcome topic that someone can use for their own purposes.
EXAMPLE
Der Fehler des Ministers war für die Opposition ein gefundenes Fressen.
The minister's mistake was a gift to the opposition.
jemanden zum Fressen gern haben
to love someone to bits
To be very fond of someone; this expression is usually used jokingly or affectionately.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe dich zum Fressen gern.
I love you to bits.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Fressen, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| genitive | des Fressens |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Fressen | – |
| accusative | das Fressen | – |
| dative | dem Fressen | – |
| genitive | des Fressens | – |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Word family
'Das Fressen' (feeding/feed) is derived from the verb 'fressen' (to eat, used for animals) and is used as a nominalized infinitive. That is why it frequently appears in fixed prepositional phrases such as 'beim Fressen' (while feeding) or 'zum Fressen' (for feeding).
EXAMPLE
Pünktlich um sechs kommt die Katze zum Fressen in die Küche.
At six o'clock sharp, the cat comes into the kitchen for feeding.
Typical collocations
For the animal-related meaning, collocations with 'geben' (to give), 'bringen' (to bring), and 'bereitstellen' (to provide) are especially common. For purchased animal food, however, German usually uses 'Futter' (feed), as in 'Hundefutter' (dog food) or 'Katzenfutter' (cat food).
EXAMPLE
Die Pfleger bringen den Löwen morgens frisches Fressen.
The keepers bring the lions fresh feed every morning.
Crude style
When 'Fressen' refers to human food, the word sounds deliberately crude or derogatory. It often shows that the speaker considers the food disgusting, inferior, or inappropriate.
EXAMPLE
Über das Kantinenessen schimpfte er: „Das ist kein Essen, das ist Fressen!“
He complained about the cafeteria food: 'That's not food, that's slop!'
Beim Fressen
For the process, 'Fressen' is often used with 'beim' (while). 'Beim Fressen' refers to the time or situation in which an animal is taking in food.
EXAMPLE
Beim Fressen hebt das Pferd den Kopf, sobald es ein Geräusch hört.
While feeding, the horse raises its head as soon as it hears a noise.
Fixed expression
In 'ein gefundenes Fressen sein' (to be a gift), 'Fressen' is often used with 'für' (for) and a person or group in the accusative. The expression describes an opportunity or topic that someone can use very effectively for their own purposes.
EXAMPLE
Der unklare Bericht war für die Journalisten ein gefundenes Fressen.
The unclear report was a gift to the journalists.
Affectionate expression
In 'jemanden zum Fressen gernhaben' (to love someone to bits), the loved person is in the accusative. The fixed expression is usually joking or affectionate and is not understood literally.
EXAMPLE
Meine kleine Nichte habe ich zum Fressen gern.
I love my little niece to bits.
In real life
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