01
saftig
juicy
Containing a lot of liquid or juice, making something fresh and not dry. Often used for fruit, meat, or cake.
example
Der Pfirsich war unglaublich süß und saftig.
The peach was incredibly sweet and juicy.
saftig
juicy / hefty / racy
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word formation
The adjective 'saftig' (juicy) is derived directly from the noun 'der Saft' (juice). The ending '-ig' means 'full of' or 'rich in'. Literally, 'saftig' therefore means 'full of juice'.
EXAMPLE
Diese Orange ist besonders saftig.
This orange is especially juicy.
Context clues
The meaning of 'saftig' depends strongly on the context. In connection with food, it means 'moist and fresh'. In connection with money or penalties, it means 'very high'. With language or jokes, it means 'crude' or 'expressive'.
EXAMPLE
Der Braten war zart und saftig.
The roast was tender and juicy.
Typical collocations
In its literal meaning, 'saftig' (juicy) is often used to describe fruit, meat, or cake. Typical combinations are 'ein saftiger Apfel' (a juicy apple), 'ein saftiges Steak' (a juicy steak), or 'ein saftiger Schokoladenkuchen' (a moist chocolate cake).
EXAMPLE
Ich esse am liebsten ein saftiges Stück Fleisch.
My favorite thing to eat is a juicy piece of meat.
Colloquial usage
In colloquial language, 'saftig' (hefty) often describes something negative that is unpleasantly high. Typical collocations are 'eine saftige Strafe' (a hefty penalty), 'ein saftiger Preis' (a hefty price), or 'eine saftige Rechnung' (a hefty bill).
EXAMPLE
Für 10 km/h zu schnell habe ich ein saftiges Bußgeld bekommen.
I got a hefty fine for driving 10 km/h too fast.
Compare with
saftig vs frisch
fresh
'frisch' and 'saftig' can both sound positive when talking about food. 'Frisch' means that something is not old and was harvested, made, or prepared recently. 'Saftig' means that something contains a lot of liquid or juice and is therefore not dry. The words can be confused because fresh fruit is often juicy too. But a fresh bread roll is not necessarily juicy, and a juicy piece of meat may still no longer be completely fresh. So 'frisch' describes more the condition or age, while 'saftig' describes more the feeling when eating.
saftig
Die Birne ist sehr saftig, deshalb läuft mir der Saft über die Hand.
The pear is very juicy, so the juice runs over my hand.
frisch
Auf dem Markt kauft Lena frisches Gemüse für das Abendessen.
At the market, Lena buys fresh vegetables for dinner.
In real life
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