die Zehe
toe
One of the five movable parts at the front end of the foot in humans and many animals.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe mir die kleine Zehe am Tischbein gestoßen.
I stubbed my little toe on the table leg.
die Zehe
toe / clove
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Meanings
die Zehe
clove
A single small segment of a bulb of garlic.
EXAMPLE
Für die Soße musst du eine Knoblauchzehe fein hacken.
For the sauce, you need to finely chop one clove of garlic.
Usage tips
Context clue
The meaning is immediately recognizable from context. If people are talking about the body, feet, or pain, the part of the foot is meant. If people are talking about cooking, recipes, or garlic, the piece of garlic is meant.
EXAMPLE
Aua, ich habe mir den großen Zeh an der Tür gestoßen!
Ouch, I stubbed my big toe on the door!
Fixed expression
The expression 'auf Zehenspitzen gehen' (to walk on tiptoe) means to walk very quietly so as not to make any noise. It is often used figuratively for acting cautiously.
EXAMPLE
Sie ging auf Zehenspitzen aus dem Zimmer, um das Baby nicht aufzuwecken.
She walked out of the room on tiptoe so as not to wake the baby.
Word composition
In a cooking context, 'Zehe' (clove) is almost always a shortened form of 'Knoblauchzehe' (clove of garlic). You can also say 'eine Zehe Knoblauch' (a clove of garlic) to make it completely clear.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du bitte eine Knoblauchzehe für die Tomatensoße pressen?
Could you please press a clove of garlic for the tomato sauce?
In real life
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