die Knabberei
snack
A small food item that you nibble on, such as chips, nuts, or pretzel sticks.
EXAMPLE
Für den Filmabend habe ich verschiedene Knabbereien gekauft.
I bought various snacks for movie night.
die Knabberei
snack
die Knabberei, die Knabbereien
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Meanings
die Knabberei
nibbling
The act of nibbling itself, that is, repeatedly biting and chewing on something.
EXAMPLE
Die ständige Knabberei an den Fingernägeln hat sie sich abgewöhnt.
She got out of the habit of constantly nibbling on her fingernails.
Forms
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Knabbereien |
| genitive | der Knabberei |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Knabberei | die Knabbereien |
| accusative | die Knabberei | die Knabbereien |
| dative | der Knabberei | den Knabbereien |
| genitive | der Knabberei | der Knabbereien |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Word formation
'Knabberei' (snacking / nibbling) is derived from 'knabbern' (to nibble) with the ending '-ei'. Here, the ending refers to an activity or something connected with that activity.
EXAMPLE
Die Knabberei vor dem Fernseher gehört für ihn zum Feierabend.
For him, snacking in front of the television is part of winding down after work.
Typical collocations
When 'Knabberei' means a small food item, it is often preceded by adjectives such as 'süß' (sweet), 'salzig' (salty), or 'herzhaft' (savory). The phrase 'Knabbereien bereitstellen' (to provide snacks) is also common.
EXAMPLE
Für die Gäste standen süße und salzige Knabbereien auf dem Tisch.
There were sweet and salty snacks on the table for the guests.
Fixed preposition
When it refers to a repeated activity, 'Knabberei' often occurs with 'an' and the dative. This specifies what someone keeps nibbling on.
EXAMPLE
Seine Knabberei an den Nägeln fällt bei Gesprächen oft auf.
His nibbling on his nails is often noticeable during conversations.
Compare with
Knabberei vs Snack
snack
Both words can refer to a small food item eaten between main meals. “Snack” presents it more as a small meal in its own right, while “Knabberei” emphasizes casually nibbling. Use “Snack” for a planned small meal, and “Knabberei” when nibbling on something casually.
Knabberei
Beim Film stand eine Schüssel mit Knabberei auf dem Tisch.
There was a bowl of snacks on the table during the movie.
Snack
Vor dem Abendessen holte ich mir noch einen kleinen Snack.
Before dinner, I got myself a small snack.
In real life
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