leek
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leek
A vegetable with a long white stalk and green, flat leaves, related in flavor to the onion. It is also called 'Porree' in German.
Für die Quiche schneidet sie den Lauch in feine Ringe.
For the quiche, she cuts the leek into thin rings.
In the context of cooking and food, 'Lauch' (leek) is often combined with verbs such as 'schneiden' (to cut), 'waschen' (to wash), or 'kaufen' (to buy). It is also part of dishes such as 'Lauchsuppe' (leek soup) or 'Lauchquiche' (leek quiche).
Für die Suppe muss ich noch Lauch kaufen.
I still need to buy leek for the soup.
For the vegetable, the name 'der Porree' (leek) is also very common, especially in western and northern Germany as well as in the technical language of commerce.
Im Supermarkt findest du den Porree neben den Zwiebeln.
In the supermarket, you'll find the leek next to the onions.
The use of 'Lauch' (wimp / weakling) as a term for a person is highly colloquial and used as a derogatory insult. Use it only if you are aware of this effect.
Er hat sie schon wieder versetzt? Was für ein Lauch!
He stood her up again? What a wimp!
You can clearly tell from the context whether the vegetable or the insult is meant. If the word refers to a person, it has the colloquial, negative meaning.
Mein Bruder ist so ein Lauch, er verbringt das ganze Wochenende mit Videospielen.
My brother is such a weakling; he spends the whole weekend playing video games.
The insult refers to the appearance of the vegetable. A person described as a 'Lauch' (wimp / weakling) is perceived as tall, thin, and physically weak.
Geh mal ins Fitnessstudio, du Lauch!
Go to the gym, you wimp!
garlic
'der Knoblauch' and 'der Lauch' are both plants used in cooking, and in flavor they are related to onions. Even so, they are different ingredients. 'Knoblauch' consists of a bulb with individual cloves and has a very strong smell and taste. 'Lauch' is a long vegetable with a white stalk and green leaves; it tastes milder and is also called 'Porree' in German. Learners may confuse the words because the word 'Lauch' appears inside 'Knoblauch'. In recipes, the difference is important: a clove of garlic is not the same as a stalk of leek.
Für die Suppe schneidet Ali den Lauch in dünne Ringe.
For the soup, Ali cuts the leek into thin rings.
Für die Soße presst Maria zwei Zehen Knoblauch in die Pfanne.
For the sauce, Maria presses two cloves of garlic into the pan.