backen
/ˈbakən/
To bake in German is backen.
The verb backen is used to describe the process of cooking food, such as bread or cookies, in an oven.
Meaning: to cook in an oven (verb)
Which one should you use?
In modern German, backen can function as both a strong and a weak verb. However, it is also very common to use it as a weak verb, resulting in the forms backte and gebacken.
How does it change in a sentence?
The third person singular present tense is backt. For the simple past tense, the weak form backte is used. The past participle is gebacken.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbakən/
Did you know?
- The ancient Greek word φώγω is a distant relative of the German backen. Both share an ancient root referring to the application of heat.
- While we think of backen as just for food, it is also used for 'firing' ceramics or bricks in a kiln.
- German uses backen for things English speakers might call 'roasting', such as Überbacken when grilling cheese on top of a dish in the oven.
Examples in context
- Ich kann Brot backen.I can bake bread.This sentence shows how to express a capability regarding the verb backen.Tatoeba #4034418 by pinky, translation #2917718 by mervert1
- Soll ich Brot backen?Do you want me to bake some bread?This sentence is a way to offer to perform the action of backen.Tatoeba #12406926 by Waldelfe, translation #6065079 by CK
- Lass uns Kekse backen!Let's bake cookies.This sentence is a suggestion to engage in the activity of backen.Tatoeba #10073688 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #3568430 by CK
- 31 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julian and Hannah are in the kitchen.
- JulianWillst du heute einen Kuchen backen?Do you want to bake a cake today?
- HannahJa, ich möchte einen Schokoladenkuchen backen.Yes, I want to bake a chocolate cake.
- JulianSoll ich dir beim Backen helfen?Should I help you with the baking?
- HannahDas wäre toll, danke Julian!That would be great, thanks Julian!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bake” translations and entries backen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries backen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
