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herzhaft
savory / hearty
Refers to foods that taste strong, spicy, and not sweet. Often used for substantial, hearty meals.
example
Nach der Wanderung gab es eine herzhafte Gulaschsuppe.
After the hike, there was a hearty goulash soup.
herzhaft
hearty / savory
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word structure
The word is made up of 'Herz' (heart) and the suffix '-haft' (-like, having the quality of). So it literally means something like 'heart-like' or 'full of heart' and describes something strong, substantial, or full of feeling.
EXAMPLE
Nach der Gartenarbeit schmeckt ein herzhaftes Abendessen besonders gut.
After gardening, a hearty dinner tastes especially good.
Context clue
You can easily recognize the meaning of 'herzhaft' (hearty/savory) from the context. In connection with food and drink, it means 'deftig' (hearty/substantial) or 'würzig' (spicy/savory). In connection with actions like laughing or yawning, it describes them as strong and uninhibited.
EXAMPLE
Zum Frühstück isst er am liebsten etwas Herzhaftes, wie Wurst und Käse.
For breakfast, he prefers something savory, like sausage and cheese.
Typical collocations
When it comes to food, 'herzhaft' (hearty/savory) is often used for certain meals. Typical combinations are: 'ein herzhaftes Frühstück' (a hearty breakfast), 'ein herzhafter Eintopf' (a hearty stew), or 'eine herzhafte Brotzeit' (a hearty snack/light meal).
EXAMPLE
In der Berghütte wurde uns ein herzhafter Eintopf serviert.
In the mountain hut, we were served a hearty stew.
Use as an adverb
In this meaning, 'herzhaft' (heartily) is usually used as an adverb to describe a verb more closely. It then stands directly with the verb and expresses the intensity of the action.
EXAMPLE
Die Kinder spielten und tobten herzhaft im Garten.
The children played and romped heartily in the garden.
Compare with
herzhaft vs kräftig
strong / intense
'kräftig' and 'herzhaft' can both describe the taste of food. 'kräftig' means that a flavor is strong and clear, or that a meal is very filling. 'herzhaft' is used especially for savory, substantial, and non-sweet foods. Learners may confuse the words because 'herzhaftes Essen' (savory / hearty food) often also tastes 'kräftig'. The difference is: 'kräftig' mainly says how intense something is. 'herzhaft' says more about what kind of food it is, namely savory and not sweet.
herzhaft
Zum Frühstück isst er lieber ein herzhaftes Brot mit Käse als etwas Süßes.
For breakfast, he prefers a savory slice of bread with cheese to something sweet.
kräftig
Die Suppe schmeckt kräftig, weil viele Kräuter darin sind.
The soup tastes strong because it has many herbs in it.
In real life
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