bread roll
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bread roll
A term used especially in southern Germany and Austria for a small, usually round bread roll made from light wheat flour.
Für die Brotzeit kaufe ich beim Bäcker zwei Semmeln und eine Breze.
For my snack, I buy two bread rolls and a pretzel at the bakery.
The word 'Semmel' (bread roll) is used mainly in southern Germany, especially Bavaria, and in Austria for a small wheat bread roll. In other parts of Germany, it is not common.
In Wien bestellt man zum Frühstück oft eine Semmel mit Marmelade.
In Vienna, people often order a bread roll with jam for breakfast.
'Semmel' (bread roll) is often combined into compound nouns that describe a type of filled roll. Very typical examples are 'Leberkäsesemmel' (Leberkäse roll), 'Wurstsemmel' (sausage roll), or 'Käsesemmel' (cheese roll).
In der Mittagspause esse ich oft eine Leberkäsesemmel.
During my lunch break, I often eat a Leberkäse roll.
Other well-known words are derived from 'Semmel' (bread roll) and are understood outside southern Germany and Austria as well. These include 'Semmelknödel' (a type of bread dumpling) and 'Semmelbrösel' (breadcrumbs).
Für ein Wiener Schnitzel braucht man Semmelbrösel.
For a Wiener schnitzel, you need breadcrumbs.
emperor / Kaiser roll
'der Kaiser' and 'die Semmel' can both have to do with a small bread roll, but only in a specific meaning. 'Kaiser' is then a short form of 'Kaisersemmel', meaning a special round roll with a star-shaped cut. 'Semmel' is more general and simply means 'bread roll' in southern Germany and Austria. There is a risk of confusion because 'Kaiser' normally also means a ruler. At the bakery, however, 'ein Kaiser' often does not mean a ruler, but a specific type of baked good.
Für die Jause kauft Anna zwei frische Semmeln.
Anna buys two fresh bread rolls for her snack.
Beim Bäcker nehme ich einen Kaiser mit Butter und Marmelade.
At the bakery, I get a Kaiser roll with butter and jam.