der Spinat
spinach
A green leafy vegetable that is eaten cooked or raw as food.
EXAMPLE
Als Kind mochte ich keinen Spinat, aber heute esse ich ihn gerne.
As a child, I didn't like spinach, but today I enjoy eating it.
der Spinat
spinach
der Spinat, die Spinate
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Spinat, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| plural | die Spinate |
| genitive | des Spinates |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Spinat | die Spinate |
| accusative | den Spinat | die Spinate |
| dative | dem Spinat | den Spinaten |
| genitive | des Spinates des Spinats | der Spinate |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Use as a mass noun
'Spinat' (spinach) is a mass noun, similar to 'Milch' (milk) or 'Reis' (rice). It is usually used in the singular and often without an article when talking about the food in general.
EXAMPLE
Zum Mittagessen gibt es heute Fisch mit Spinat und Kartoffeln.
For lunch today, there is fish with spinach and potatoes.
Typical preparations
Common combinations in cooking are 'Rahmspinat' (creamed spinach), 'Blattspinat' (leaf spinach), or the classic meal 'Spinat mit Spiegelei und Kartoffeln' (spinach with a fried egg and potatoes). A distinction is also made between 'frischem Spinat' (fresh spinach) and 'Tiefkühlspinat' (frozen spinach).
EXAMPLE
Ich mag am liebsten Rahmspinat.
I like creamed spinach best.
Cultural context
As in English, spinach is also often associated in German-speaking countries with the comic character Popeye and is considered a symbol of strength and health.
EXAMPLE
Iss deinen Spinat, damit du groß und stark wirst!
Eat your spinach so you grow big and strong!
In real life
Loading video examples...