01
die Muttermilch
breast milk
The milk produced by a human mother's breast to feed her baby.
example
Muttermilch gilt als die beste und natürlichste Nahrung für Säuglinge.
Breast milk is considered the best and most natural food for infants.
die Muttermilch
breast milk
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Compound word
The word is built very logically and consists of 'die Mutter' (the mother) and 'die Milch' (the milk). So it literally means 'the mother's milk'.
EXAMPLE
Die Ernährung des Babys besteht in den ersten Monaten nur aus Muttermilch.
In the first few months, the baby's diet consists only of breast milk.
Fixed expression
The expression 'etwas mit der Muttermilch aufsaugen' (to absorb something with one's mother's milk) is a fixed unit. It means that someone learned an ability or quality very naturally as a small child.
EXAMPLE
Da seine Eltern Musiker sind, hat er das Rhythmusgefühl mit der Muttermilch aufgesogen.
Since his parents are musicians, he absorbed a sense of rhythm from infancy.
Context clue
You can always recognize the figurative meaning by the verb 'aufsaugen' (to absorb). Without this verb, 'Muttermilch' (breast milk) is used almost exclusively in its literal meaning.
EXAMPLE
Die Begeisterung für Bücher hat sie mit der Muttermilch aufgesogen.
She absorbed her enthusiasm for books from infancy.
Compare with
Muttermilch vs Milch
milk
'die Milch' and 'die Muttermilch' both refer to milk, but they are not equally general. 'Milch' is the broader term and in everyday language usually means cow's milk, but it can also refer generally to the milk of mammals. 'Muttermilch' means specifically the milk of a human mother for her baby. The words can be confused because breast milk is a type of milk. When you are talking generally about a drink or an ingredient, you say 'Milch'. When you are talking about breastfeeding or a baby being fed by its mother, 'Muttermilch' is correct.
Muttermilch
Beim Termin erklärt die Ärztin, wie wichtig Muttermilch für das Baby sein kann.
At the appointment, the doctor explains how important breast milk can be for the baby.
Milch
Im Kühlschrank steht noch genug Milch für den Kaffee.
There is still enough milk in the fridge for the coffee.
In real life
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