In der Küche: Kochen mit Leidenschaft
Cooking at home · a free German immersion capsule
Useful sentences · 10
Phrases you'll actually use today. Tap Explain for the why behind each one.
Heute koche ich eine leckere Tomatensuppe für meine Familie.
Today I am cooking a delicious tomato soup for my family.
Uses the present tense to describe an ongoing action. 'Heute' (today) sets the time frame, and 'koche' is the first-person singular of 'kochen'.
- Present tense: 'ich koche' (I cook / am cooking)
- Accusative case: 'eine leckere Tomatensuppe' (a delicious tomato soup – feminine noun)
Zuerst schneide ich die Zwiebeln in kleine Stücke.
First, I cut the onions into small pieces.
'Zuerst' (first) signals the opening step in a sequence. 'Schneiden' (to cut) takes a direct object in the accusative case.
- Temporal adverb: 'zuerst' (first) for sequencing steps
- Accusative case: 'die Zwiebeln' (the onions – plural)
Erhitze das Öl in einem großen Topf auf mittlerer Flamme.
Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat.
The imperative form of 'erhitzen' (to heat) gives a direct cooking instruction, as found in recipes. The dative case follows the preposition 'in'.
- Imperative mood (du-form): 'Erhitze' (Heat!)
- Dative case after 'in': 'in einem großen Topf' (in a large pot)
Das Rezept schreibt vor, dass wir Knoblauch und Tomaten verwenden müssen.
The recipe specifies that we must use garlic and tomatoes.
The separable verb 'vorschreiben' (to specify/prescribe) splits: 'schreibt' stays with the subject and 'vor' moves to the end. The modal 'müssen' forces the infinitive to the end of the subordinate clause.
- Separable verb: 'vorschreiben' → 'schreibt...vor'
- Modal verb 'müssen' in subordinate clause: verb-final word order – 'verwenden müssen'
Während die Suppe kocht, bereite ich das Brot vor.
While the soup cooks, I prepare the bread.
'Während' (while) introduces a temporal subordinate clause where the verb moves to the end. 'Vorbereiten' is a separable verb split in the main clause.
- Temporal conjunction: 'während' + verb-final in subordinate clause
- Separable verb: 'vorbereiten' → 'bereite...vor' in the main clause
Rühre die Suppe regelmäßig um, damit sie nicht anbrennt.
Stir the soup regularly so that it doesn't burn.
'Umrühren' (to stir) in the imperative splits its prefix 'um' to the end. 'Damit' (so that) introduces a purpose clause where the verb goes last.
- Imperative of separable verb: 'umrühren' → 'Rühre...um'
- Purpose clause with 'damit' + verb-final: 'damit sie nicht anbrennt'
Du kannst frische Kräuter nach deinem Geschmack dazugeben.
You can add fresh herbs according to your taste.
The modal verb 'können' (can) expresses possibility or personal choice. The infinitive 'dazugeben' moves to the end of the sentence.
- Modal verb 'können' (can) + infinitive at end of clause
- Dative after 'nach': 'nach deinem Geschmack' (according to your taste)
Würze die Suppe mit Salz und Pfeffer, bevor du sie servierst.
Season the soup with salt and pepper before you serve it.
The imperative of 'würzen' (to season) gives a direct instruction. 'Bevor' (before) introduces a temporal subordinate clause with the verb at the end.
- Imperative mood (du-form): 'Würze' (Season!)
- Temporal conjunction: 'bevor' + verb-final: 'bevor du sie servierst'
Nachdem wir den Tisch gedeckt haben, setzen wir uns zusammen.
After we have set the table, we sit down together.
'Nachdem' (after) requires the perfect tense in the subordinate clause. 'Zusammensetzen' (to sit down together) is a separable verb split in the main clause.
- 'Nachdem' + perfect tense in subordinate clause: 'gedeckt haben'
- Separable verb: 'zusammensetzen' → 'setzen...zusammen'
Das selbst gekochte Essen schmeckt viel besser als Fast Food.
Home-cooked food tastes much better than fast food.
The comparative 'besser' (better) with 'als' (than) makes a direct comparison. 'Selbst gekochte' is a participial adjective meaning home-cooked or self-cooked.
- Comparative adjective: 'besser als' (better than)
- Participial adjective: 'selbst gekochte' (home-cooked, modifying 'Essen')
New words · 10
Themed vocabulary, each with an example you can borrow.
kochen
to cook
Ich koche jeden Abend für meine Familie.
I cook for my family every evening.
Can also mean 'to boil': 'Wasser kochen' (to boil water)
die Zwiebel
onion
Schneide die Zwiebel in kleine Würfel.
Cut the onion into small cubes.
schneiden
to cut / to chop
Du musst das Gemüse zuerst schneiden.
You must cut the vegetables first.
der Topf
pot
Gib die Zutaten in den Topf.
Put the ingredients into the pot.
das Rezept
recipe
Dieses Rezept ist sehr einfach zu befolgen.
This recipe is very easy to follow.
die Zutaten
ingredients
Kaufe alle Zutaten auf dem Markt.
Buy all the ingredients at the market.
Always used in plural form: 'die Zutaten'
würzen
to season / to spice
Würze das Fleisch mit Paprika und Salz.
Season the meat with paprika and salt.
rühren
to stir
Rühre die Soße, damit sie nicht klumpt.
Stir the sauce so it doesn't clump.
Often used as the separable 'umrühren' when stirring a pot
der Knoblauch
garlic
Der Knoblauch gibt dem Gericht einen tollen Geschmack.
The garlic gives the dish a great flavor.
Used without an article in recipe instructions: 'Knoblauch hacken' (chop garlic)
vorbereiten
to prepare
Bereite alle Zutaten vor dem Kochen vor.
Prepare all the ingredients before cooking.
Separable verb: 'bereite...vor' in conjugated forms
Short reading
A tiny story stitched from today's words. Translation is hidden, tap to peek.
Maria möchte heute Abend ein besonderes Gericht für ihre Freunde kochen. Sie schaut sich das Rezept genau an und schreibt alle Zutaten auf. Zuerst schneidet sie das Gemüse und den Knoblauch sorgfältig, dann erhitzt sie Öl in einem großen Topf. Während alles zusammen kocht, rührt sie regelmäßig um und würzt die Suppe mit frischen Kräutern.
Sentence by sentence
möchte heute Abend ein besonderes Gericht kochen
wants to cook a special dish this evening
Modal verb 'möchte' (would like to) with the infinitive 'kochen' placed at the end of the clause.
schaut sich das Rezept genau an
carefully looks at the recipe
Separable verb 'anschauen' (to look at) with reflexive pronoun 'sich'; the prefix 'an' moves to the end of the clause.
schreibt alle Zutaten auf
writes down all the ingredients
Separable verb 'aufschreiben' (to write down); the prefix 'auf' moves to the end of the clause.
schneidet sie das Gemüse und den Knoblauch sorgfältig
she carefully cuts the vegetables and garlic
Accusative case: 'das Gemüse' (neuter) and 'den Knoblauch' (masculine, accusative ending -en).
Während alles zusammen kocht
while everything cooks together
Temporal conjunction 'während' (while) pushes the verb 'kocht' to the end of the subordinate clause.
würzt die Suppe mit frischen Kräutern
seasons the soup with fresh herbs
Dative case after 'mit': 'mit frischen Kräutern' (with fresh herbs – dative plural, adjective ending -en).
Pattern of the day
One grammar move, explained once, that unlocks dozens of sentences.
Imperative Forms for Cooking Instructions
In German, the imperative mood gives direct instructions, as in recipes. For the informal 'du' form, drop the infinitive ending -en (and usually the personal ending -st). For the polite 'Sie' form, place 'Sie' after the conjugated verb. Separable verbs always split their prefix to the end of the imperative sentence.
[Verb stem] + (object) + ... + [separable prefix]! | [Infinitive stem] + Sie + (object)!
Schneide die Zwiebeln in kleine Stücke!
Cut the onions into small pieces!
Rühre die Suppe regelmäßig um!
Stir the soup regularly!
Würzen Sie das Gemüse mit Salz und Pfeffer!
Season the vegetables with salt and pepper! (polite form)
Bereite alle Zutaten vor dem Kochen vor!
Prepare all the ingredients before cooking!
Mini practice · 5
Low-pressure, never graded. Just enough to make it stick.
Translate to German: 'Stir the soup regularly so that it doesn't burn.'
Hint Think about the imperative form of 'umrühren' and the conjunction 'damit'.
Complete the sentence: 'Würze die Suppe mit Salz und Pfeffer, bevor du sie ______.'
Hint What do you do with food when it's ready to eat?
What does this sentence mean? 'Das selbst gekochte Essen schmeckt viel besser als Fast Food.'
Hint 'Selbst gekocht' describes something you made yourself.
Which sentence uses the correct imperative to tell someone to heat the oil?
Rewrite this sentence in the imperative (give an instruction): 'Man muss die Zwiebeln in kleine Stücke schneiden.'
Hint Drop 'man muss' and put the verb in its imperative form at the start.
That’s today’s phraseberry.
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