strudel / whirlpool
Loading your saved state.
strudel
A sweet pastry made from thin dough that is covered with a filling, often apples, quark, or poppy seeds, then rolled up and baked.
Zum Nachtisch gab es warmen Apfelstrudel mit Vanillesoße.
For dessert, there was warm apple strudel with vanilla sauce.
whirlpool
A circular, swirling movement in water that arises from converging currents and can pull objects into its center.
Das kleine Boot wurde von einem gefährlichen Strudel erfasst und kenterte.
The small boat was caught by a dangerous whirlpool and capsized.
vortex
In a figurative sense, a confusing, chaotic, or overwhelming situation that is difficult to escape from.
Nach dem Jobverlust geriet er in einen Strudel aus Schulden und Sorgen.
After losing his job, he fell into a vortex of debt and worry.
All meanings of the word 'Strudel' are connected by the idea of a swirling or rolling movement. The pastry is rolled, the whirlpool turns in a circle, and in the figurative sense, one is 'swept away' by a situation.
Sie rollte den Teig für den Strudel vorsichtig auf.
She carefully rolled up the dough for the strudel.
The context makes the meaning clear. Words like 'Apfel' (apple), 'backen' (to bake), or 'Nachtisch' (dessert) point to the pastry (m01). 'Wasser' (water), 'Fluss' (river), or 'Boot' (boat) refer to the water vortex (m02). Abstract terms like 'Schulden' (debts), 'Gefühle' (feelings), or 'Gewalt' (violence) signal the figurative meaning (m03).
Er bestellte ein Stück warmen Strudel mit Sahne.
He ordered a piece of warm strudel with cream.
With the pastry, the filling is often named directly in the word, e.g. 'Apfelstrudel' (apple strudel), 'Quarkstrudel' (quark strudel), or 'Mohnstrudel' (poppy-seed strudel). It is often served 'mit Vanillesoße' (with vanilla sauce) or 'mit Puderzucker' (with powdered sugar).
In Wien habe ich einen fantastischen Topfenstrudel gegessen.
In Vienna, I ate a fantastic Topfenstrudel.
The phrase 'in einen Strudel geraten' (to get caught in a whirlpool/vortex) is used both for the water vortex and for the figurative meaning. It vividly describes how one is caught up in a situation and loses control.
Nach dem Tod seiner Frau geriet er in einen tiefen Strudel der Trauer.
After his wife's death, he fell into a deep vortex of grief.
vertebra / swirl
Wirbel and Strudel can both refer to a circular movement in water. A Wirbel can generally be a local swirling motion, while a Strudel usually appears larger and pulls water or objects inward. Use Wirbel for the swirling motion and Strudel when the pull toward the center is important.
Unterhalb des Wasserfalls entstand ein großer Strudel, der Äste zur Mitte zog.
A large whirlpool formed below the waterfall and pulled branches toward its center.
Hinter dem Stein entstand im Bach ein kleiner Wirbel.
A small whirlpool formed in the stream behind the rock.
