01
vierteln
to quarter
To cut something into four roughly equal parts.
example
Für den Obstsalat musst du zuerst die Äpfel vierteln.
For the fruit salad, you first have to quarter the apples.
vierteln
to quarter
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word structure
The verb 'vierteln' (to quarter) is derived directly from the number 'vier' (four). It literally means to make something into four parts. This structure helps you understand the main meaning immediately.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du bitte die Zitrone für den Tee vierteln?
Could you please quarter the lemon for the tea?
Context clue
The two meanings are very easy to distinguish. In everyday life, especially in cooking, 'vierteln' (to quarter) always means to cut something into four pieces. The cruel death-penalty meaning appears only in historical texts or discussions about the Middle Ages.
EXAMPLE
Ich viertele schnell die Tomaten für den Salat.
I'll quickly quarter the tomatoes for the salad.
Typical objects
In everyday life, the verb is usually used with food. Typical objects are: 'einen Apfel vierteln' (to quarter an apple), 'eine Zwiebel vierteln' (to quarter an onion), 'Kartoffeln vierteln' (to quarter potatoes), or 'einen Kuchen vierteln' (to quarter a cake).
EXAMPLE
Für das Rezept müssen Sie die Zwiebeln nicht hacken, sondern nur vierteln.
For the recipe, you do not need to chop the onions, just quarter them.
Compare with
vierteln vs teilen
to share / divide
'teilen' and 'vierteln' can both mean that you break something down into several parts. 'teilen' is the general word and does not say by itself how many parts are created. 'vierteln' is more precise: it means to divide something into four equal or almost equal parts. Learners may confuse the words because 'vierteln' is a special type of 'teilen'. If the number of parts is not important, 'teilen' is enough. If there should be exactly four parts, 'vierteln' fits better.
vierteln
Sie viertelt die Tomaten für den Salat.
She quarters the tomatoes for the salad.
teilen
Am Wochenende teilen wir die Pizza in mehrere Stücke.
At the weekend, we divide the pizza into several pieces.
In real life
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