lye
die Lauge, die Laugen
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lye
A usually alkaline liquid that forms when a base dissolves in water or when a substance is leached with water.
Die Lauge muss vorsichtig behandelt werden, weil sie die Haut verätzen kann.
The lye must be handled carefully because it can burn the skin.
soapy water / cleaning solution
A liquid containing alkaline substances that is used for washing, cleaning, or soaking.
Die verschmutzte Wäsche wurde in einer warmen Lauge eingeweicht.
The dirty laundry was soaked in warm soapy water.
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Laugen |
| genitive | der Lauge |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Lauge | die Laugen |
| accusative | die Lauge | die Laugen |
| dative | der Lauge | den Laugen |
| genitive | der Lauge | der Laugen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
In compounds such as „Seifenlauge“ (soapy water) and „Waschlauge“ (washing solution), „Lauge“ is the base word. The first part names a substance it contains or its intended use.
Zum Reinigen verwenden wir eine Lauge aus Wasser und Seife, also eine Seifenlauge.
For cleaning, we use a solution of water and soap, in other words a „Seifenlauge“ (soapy water).
In chemistry, „eine Lauge verdünnen“ (to dilute lye) and „eine Lauge neutralisieren“ (to neutralize lye) are typical collocations. To describe the concentration, „konzentriert“ (concentrated) or „verdünnt“ (diluted) is often used.
Im Labor wurde die konzentrierte Lauge vor dem Versuch verdünnt.
In the laboratory, the concentrated lye was diluted before the experiment.
When talking about soaking, „in einer Lauge“ (in a cleaning solution) is often used with the dative. When talking about cleaning, „mit einer Lauge“ (with a cleaning solution) names the cleaning agent being used; here too, the dative is used.
Wir haben die fettigen Tücher in einer Lauge eingeweicht.
We soaked the greasy cloths in a cleaning solution.
Die verschmutzten Fliesen wurden mit einer Lauge gereinigt.
The dirty tiles were cleaned with an alkaline cleaning solution.
