01
die Sauce
sauce
A liquid to creamy, seasoned preparation served with hot or cold dishes to improve or complement their flavor.
example
Zu den Nudeln gab es eine cremige Tomatensauce.
The pasta came with a creamy tomato sauce.
die Sauce
sauce
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Origin of the word
'Sauce' (sauce) is a loanword from French. Although it is integrated into the German language, it retains a foreign-language feel.
EXAMPLE
In der französischen Küche sind Saucen besonders wichtig.
In French cuisine, sauces are especially important.
Typical compounds
The word 'Sauce' (sauce) is the base word for countless specific sauces. You simply form a compound with the main ingredient, such as 'Tomatensauce' (tomato sauce), 'Käsesauce' (cheese sauce), or 'Vanillesauce' (vanilla sauce).
EXAMPLE
Zum Schnitzel passt am besten eine Champignon-Rahm-Sauce.
A creamy mushroom sauce goes best with schnitzel.
Typical verbs
In connection with preparing sauces, the verbs 'zubereiten' (to prepare), 'anrühren' (to mix up), 'kochen' (to cook), or 'binden' (to thicken, literally to bind) are often used.
EXAMPLE
Man kann eine helle Sauce mit etwas Mehl binden.
You can thicken a light sauce with a little flour.
Colloquial meaning
In its colloquial meaning, 'Sauce' (gunk/mess) is used disparagingly for an unappetizing or dirty liquid. The context is usually negative.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Regen war der Feldweg eine einzige braune Sauce.
After the rain, the dirt road was one big brown mess.
Compare with
Sauce vs Saft
juice / power
'der Saft' and 'die Sauce' can both appear as liquids in food, but they are not the same thing. 'Der Saft' often forms on its own, for example when meat, fish, or vegetables release liquid during cooking. 'Die Sauce' is deliberately prepared, seasoned, and served with food. Learners may confuse the words because when cooking, you can see both in the pot or on the plate. If the liquid comes out of the food, 'Saft' fits. If it is cooked as a flavorful side or addition, 'Sauce' fits.
Sauce
In der Küche rührte Maria eine cremige Sauce für die Nudeln.
In the kitchen, Maria stirred a creamy sauce for the pasta.
Saft
Beim Braten läuft aus den Tomaten viel Saft in die Pfanne.
When the tomatoes are frying, a lot of juice runs into the pan.
In real life
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