01
zart
tender
Soft and easy to chew or cut, especially with foods such as meat.
example
Das Steak war unglaublich zart und saftig.
The steak was incredibly tender and juicy.
zart
tender / delicate
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
01 / 05
Usage tips
Context clue
You can recognize the exact meaning of 'zart' (tender/delicate) from the noun it describes. Depending on whether it refers to food, a color, a person, or an object, the meaning changes.
EXAMPLE
Das zarte Gemüse war schnell gar.
The tender vegetables were cooked quickly.
Typical collocations: food
When referring to food, 'zart' (tender) is often used to describe soft meat or vegetables. Typical combinations are 'zartes Fleisch' (tender meat), 'zartes Gemüse' (tender vegetables), or 'zarter Fisch' (tender fish).
EXAMPLE
Das Lammfilet war so zart, dass es auf der Zunge zerging.
The lamb fillet was so tender that it melted on the tongue.
Typical collocations: fragile
When something is described as 'zart' (delicate) in the sense of fragile, typical nouns are 'Pflanze' (plant), 'Haut' (skin), 'Seele' (soul), or 'Glas' (glass).
EXAMPLE
Die zarte Haut eines Babys braucht besonderen Schutz.
A baby's delicate skin needs special protection.
Typical collocations: gentleness
To describe a gentle or loving action, 'zart' (gentle) is often combined with words such as 'Berührung' (touch), 'Kuss' (kiss), or 'Stimme' (voice).
EXAMPLE
Mit einer zarten Bewegung strich er ihr eine Haarsträhne aus dem Gesicht.
With a gentle movement, he brushed a strand of hair out of her face.
Use with colors
In combination with a color, 'zart' (soft) describes a light, unobtrusive pastel shade. For example, people say 'ein zartes Grün' (a soft green) or 'ein zartes Gelb' (a soft yellow).
EXAMPLE
Für das Kinderzimmer wählten sie zarte Pastellfarben.
For the children's room, they chose soft pastel colors.
Fixed expression: age
Describing a young age with 'zart' (tender) is rather elevated or poetic. It is almost always used in the fixed expression 'in zartem Alter' (at a tender age).
EXAMPLE
Er lernte schon in zartem Alter das Klavierspielen.
He learned to play the piano at a tender age.
Compare with
zart vs fein
fine
'fein' and 'zart' overlap when something seems light, thin, pleasant, or not coarse. 'zart' especially emphasizes softness, sensitivity, or gentleness, for example with skin, flowers, colors, or meat. 'fein' can also mean very small, precisely made, or elegant, as with fabric, sand, or workmanship. The words can be confused because both describe something non-coarse. In practical terms: 'zart' is more suitable when something is soft or delicate; 'fein' is more suitable when something is very thin, precise, or elegant.
zart
In der Vase stehen zarte Blumen, die schnell welken.
There are delicate flowers in the vase, and they wilt quickly.
fein
Der feine Sand bleibt nach dem Strandbesuch in den Schuhen.
The fine sand stays in your shoes after a visit to the beach.
In real life
Loading video examples...