01
die Prise
pinch
A very small amount of a powdered or granular substance that can be held between the thumb and index finger.
example
Für den Teig benötigen Sie eine Prise Salz.
For the dough, you need a pinch of salt.
die Prise
pinch
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Typical collocations
In the context of cooking and recipes, 'Prise' (pinch) is almost always used for spices or seasonings. The most common combinations are 'eine Prise Salz' (a pinch of salt), 'eine Prise Pfeffer' (a pinch of pepper), or 'eine Prise Zucker' (a pinch of sugar).
EXAMPLE
Gib noch eine Prise Muskatnuss in die Kartoffelsuppe.
Add another pinch of nutmeg to the potato soup.
Figurative meaning
This figurative meaning works like in cooking: you add a small but effective amount of something abstract. Typical phrases are 'eine Prise Humor' (a touch of humor), 'eine Prise Ironie' (a touch of irony), or 'eine Prise Spannung' (a touch of suspense).
EXAMPLE
Seine Geschichte erzählte er mit einer guten Prise Selbstironie.
He told his story with a good touch of self-irony.
Context clue
You can recognize the difference between the meanings from the context. If it is about food, it refers to a powdered ingredient. If it is about a story, a film, or a situation, it refers to an abstract quality.
EXAMPLE
Für den Kuchenteig braucht man eine Prise Zimt.
For the cake batter, you need a pinch of cinnamon.
Specific usage
This meaning is very specific and refers only to snuff. The fixed expression for it is 'eine Prise (Schnupftabak) nehmen' (to take a pinch of snuff).
EXAMPLE
Er holte seine Dose hervor und nahm eine Prise Schnupftabak.
He took out his tin and took a pinch of snuff.
Compare with
Prise vs Spur
track / trace
'die Spur' and 'die Prise' can both mean a very small amount. 'eine Prise' is especially typical in cooking and means a small amount of salt, sugar, or spice that you can take with your fingers. Figuratively, it can also be a small amount of something abstract. 'eine Spur' more often means a barely perceptible hint or a subtle sign of something. Learners may confuse the words because both express 'a little'. For food and spices, 'Prise' is often more natural; for feelings, smells, or very faint impressions, 'Spur' fits better.
Prise
Für den Teig braucht man nur eine Prise Salz.
You only need a pinch of salt for the dough.
Spur
Nach dem Putzen war keine Spur von Rauchgeruch mehr in der Küche.
After cleaning, there was no trace of smoke smell left in the kitchen.
In real life
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