01
die Linse
lentil
The edible, flat seed of a legume, often used for soups and stews.
example
An kalten Tagen koche ich gerne eine wärmende Linsensuppe.
On cold days, I like to cook a warming lentil soup.
die Linse
lentil / lens
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Context clue
Since 'Linse' (lentil/lens) has three very different meanings, context is crucial. If it is about cooking and food, it refers to the legume. In connection with cameras, glasses, or optics, it refers to the optical component. If people are talking about the eye or medicine, it refers to the part of the eye.
EXAMPLE
Für dieses Rezept brauchen Sie rote Linsen.
You need red lentils for this recipe.
Typical collocations
In a culinary context, 'Linse' (lentil) is often combined with dishes or preparation methods. Typical examples are 'Linsensuppe' (lentil soup), 'Linseneintopf' (lentil stew), or color descriptions such as 'rote Linsen' (red lentils) or 'braune Linsen' (brown lentils).
EXAMPLE
Im Winter esse ich gerne einen heißen Linseneintopf.
In winter, I like eating a hot lentil stew.
Typical collocations
When it comes to optics, 'Linse' (lens) often appears in connection with devices. Common combinations are 'die Linse der Kamera' (the camera lens), 'die Linse des Objektivs' (the lens of the camera lens), or 'eine konvexe/konkave Linse' (a convex/concave lens).
EXAMPLE
Pass auf, dass kein Staub auf die Kameralinse kommt.
Be careful that no dust gets on the camera lens.
Medical context
In anatomy and medicine, it almost always means 'die Linse des Auges' (the lens of the eye). You also often hear about a 'künstliche Linse' (artificial lens), which is inserted during operations.
EXAMPLE
Der Arzt erklärte, wie die Linse im Auge funktioniert.
The doctor explained how the lens in the eye works.
Compare with
Linse vs Bohne
bean
'die Bohne' and 'die Linse' are both edible plant seeds and are often cooked in warm dishes. They can therefore be easy to confuse, especially when talking generally about vegetables or legumes. A bean is usually larger and more elongated, for example a green bean or a kidney bean. A lentil is small, flat, and roundish, and is especially good in soups or stews. So if you mean the exact ingredient, you should use the specific name.
Linse
Im Winter kocht Mehmet oft eine Suppe mit roten Linsen.
In winter, Mehmet often cooks a soup with red lentils.
Bohne
Für den Salat schneidet Lisa die grünen Bohnen in kleine Stücke.
For the salad, Lisa cuts the green beans into small pieces.
In real life
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