01
der Honig
honey
A sweet, sticky liquid made by bees from the nectar of flowers.
example
Ich süße meinen Tee gerne mit einem Löffel Honig.
I like to sweeten my tea with a spoonful of honey.
der Honig
honey
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Uncountable noun
'Honig' (honey) is normally an uncountable noun (mass noun). You do not count it directly, but use quantity expressions such as 'ein Löffel Honig' (a spoonful of honey), 'ein Glas Honig' (a jar of honey), or 'etwas Honig' (some honey).
EXAMPLE
Für das Rezept brauchst du etwas flüssigen Honig.
For the recipe, you need some runny honey.
Typical collocations
Common combinations are 'Honig in den Tee tun' (to put honey in tea), 'mit Honig süßen' (to sweeten with honey), or 'vom Imker Honig kaufen' (to buy honey from a beekeeper).
EXAMPLE
Manche Leute süßen ihren Joghurt mit Honig.
Some people sweeten their yogurt with honey.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'jemandem Honig ums Maul schmieren' (to butter someone up) is fixed. The person being flattered is always in the dative.
EXAMPLE
Sie schmiert ihrer Chefin Honig ums Maul, weil sie eine Gehaltserhöhung will.
She is buttering up her boss because she wants a raise.
Compare with
Honig vs Sirup
syrup
'Honig' and 'Sirup' are both sweet, thick liquids and are often used to sweeten food or drinks. The important difference is their origin and taste: honey is made by bees and has its own natural flavor. Syrup is usually a concentrated sugar solution, often with a fruit or herbal flavor. Learners may confuse the words because both look similar and are used in similar ways. For tea, bread, or yogurt, 'Honig' sounds natural when the bee product is meant. For drinks, desserts, or fruit flavor, 'Sirup' is often a better fit.
Honig
Zum Frühstück streicht Lena Honig auf ihr Brot.
For breakfast, Lena spreads honey on her bread.
Sirup
Für die Limonade gibt Maria etwas Himbeersirup ins Glas.
For the lemonade, Maria adds some raspberry syrup to the glass.
In real life
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