A sugar that occurs in the milk of mammals and is also known as milk sugar. Many people cannot digest this sugar well, which leads to lactose intolerance.
example
Joghurt und Käse enthalten oft weniger Laktose als frische Milch.
Yogurt and cheese often contain less lactose than fresh milk.
Usage tips
Word structure
The term 'Laktose' (lactose) is a technical term from chemistry. It is derived from the Latin word 'lac' for milk and has the ending '-ose', which is typical for types of sugar.
EXAMPLE
Die Endung -ose in Laktose, Fruktose oder Glukose signalisiert immer einen Zucker.
The ending -ose in lactose, fructose, or glucose always signals a sugar.
Typical collocations
In everyday life, the word is often found in connection with 'Intoleranz' (intolerance). Other common combinations include verbs such as 'enthalten' (to contain), 'vertragen' (to tolerate), or 'verdauen' (to digest).
EXAMPLE
Ich vertrage Laktose leider nicht sehr gut.
Unfortunately, I don't tolerate lactose very well.
Use in everyday life
Although it is a technical term, 'Laktose' (lactose) is very present in everyday life. You very often encounter the derived adjective 'laktosefrei' (lactose-free), which appears on food packaging.
EXAMPLE
Gibt es diesen Kaffee auch mit laktosefreier Milch?
Is this coffee also available with lactose-free milk?