die Zitrone
lemon
A sour, yellow citrus fruit with an oval shape, used for its juice and peel in foods and drinks.
EXAMPLE
Für den Tee hätte ich gerne eine Scheibe Zitrone.
For the tea, I would like a slice of lemon.
die Zitrone
lemon
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
die Zitrone
lemon
A product, especially a car, that constantly has defects and is unreliable.
EXAMPLE
Mein neues Auto war eine echte Zitrone; es war ständig in der Werkstatt.
My new car was a real lemon; it was constantly in the repair shop.
Usage tips
Context clue
Whether the fruit or a defective product is meant becomes clear from context. If it is about food, drinks, or cooking, it always means the fruit. If people are talking about a purchased product, especially a car that does not work, the figurative meaning is meant.
EXAMPLE
Ich presse mir morgens immer den Saft einer Zitrone aus.
I always squeeze the juice of a lemon for myself in the morning.
Typical collocations
In connection with the fruit, 'Zitrone' (lemon) is often used in fixed combinations. Typical examples are 'heiße Zitrone' (hot lemon drink), 'der Saft einer Zitrone' (the juice of a lemon), or the question 'mit Zitrone?' (with lemon?), for example with tea or water.
EXAMPLE
Eine heiße Zitrone mit Honig hilft bei Erkältungen.
A hot lemon drink with honey helps with colds.
Colloquial use
Calling a product a 'Zitrone' (lemon) is colloquial. It is mostly used for expensive purchases such as cars or electronics that cause many problems right from the start.
EXAMPLE
Er hat eine Zitrone gekauft; der Motor war schon nach einer Woche kaputt.
He bought a lemon; the engine was broken after just one week.
Compare with
Zitrone vs Lemon
lemon
Both words can refer to the yellow, sour citrus fruit. “Zitrone” is the usual German term, while “Lemon” is used less often and can also refer to a specific, usually larger and milder variety. In everyday situations, “Zitrone” is therefore the safer choice.
Zitrone
Für den Tee presste sie eine frische Zitrone aus.
She squeezed a fresh lemon into the tea.
Lemon
Für den Salat verwendete der Koch eine milde Lemon.
The chef used a mild lemon in the salad.
In real life
Loading video examples...