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
jemandem auf den Keks gehen
to get on someone's nerves
A colloquial expression meaning to annoy or bother someone.
EXAMPLE
Mit seiner lauten Musik geht er den Nachbarn gehörig auf den Keks.
With his loud music, he is really getting on the neighbors' nerves.
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 Plätzchen
cookie / spot
A Keks and a Plätzchen are both small, flat, sweet baked goods. Keks is the more general term for such items. Plätzchen is especially appropriate for homemade or Christmas baked goods. In many situations, both words are understandable and possible.
Keks
Zum Kaffee nahm ich mir einen Keks aus der geöffneten Packung.
I took a cookie from the opened package with my coffee.
Plätzchen
In der Adventszeit nahm ich mir ein selbst gebackenes Plätzchen.
During Advent, I took a homemade cookie.
In real life
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