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der Keks
cookie / biscuit
A small, flat, dry baked good that is usually sweet. It is often eaten with coffee or tea.
example
Zum Nachtisch gab es Kaffee und Kekse.
For dessert, there was coffee and cookies.
der Keks
cookie / biscuit
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Meanings
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Usage tips
False friend
Although 'der Keks' (the cookie/biscuit) comes from the English word 'cakes', it means 'biscuit' or 'cookie'. A soft, larger cake is called 'der Kuchen' (cake) in German.
EXAMPLE
Zum Kaffee esse ich gerne einen Keks.
I like eating a cookie with my coffee.
Fixed expression
The expression 'jemandem auf den Keks gehen' (to get on someone's nerves) is a fixed unit and means to annoy someone. The person who is annoyed is always in the dative.
EXAMPLE
Deine laute Musik geht mir auf den Keks!
Your loud music is getting on my nerves!
Colloquial style
The expression 'auf den Keks gehen' (to get on someone's nerves) is used almost exclusively in informal colloquial language. It would be inappropriate in a formal conversation or official text.
EXAMPLE
Hör bitte auf damit, du gehst mir langsam echt auf den Keks.
Please stop doing that; you're really starting to get on my nerves.
Compare with
Keks vs Kuchen
cake
'der Kuchen' and 'der Keks' are both sweet baked goods and are often eaten with coffee or tea. The difference is mainly in size, shape, and type. A cake is usually larger, soft or moist, and cut into pieces. A cookie or biscuit is small, flat, and more dry or crispy. Learners may confuse the words because both are baked and sweet. If you cut off a slice, it is usually 'Kuchen'. If you take a small individual baked item from a package, it is usually 'Keks'.
Keks
Möchtest du einen Keks zu deinem Tee?
Would you like a cookie with your tea?
Kuchen
Zum Geburtstag hat Maria einen Schokoladenkuchen gebacken.
Maria baked a chocolate cake for her birthday.
In real life
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