Paprika
/ˈpaprika/
The English phrase 'bell peppers' is translated into German as Paprika.
Paprika refers to the mild, sweet bell pepper used as a vegetable in cooking. Note that in German, the word Paprika can mean either the fresh bell pepper vegetable or the ground spice, so the meaning is determined by the context of your conversation.
Which one should you use?
While Paprika is the standard term for the vegetable, the term Paprikaschote is used when referring to the whole bell pepper, including its core and seeds. If you are referring to spicy bell peppers or chili peppers, the term Peperoni is often used instead.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form of the bell pepper is die Paprika.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpaprika/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly assume that Paprika only refers to the ground spice. However, in German, it is also the standard word for the fresh vegetable.
Did you know?
- In Germany, the word Peperoni is used for spicy chili peppers, while in English 'pepperoni' refers to a cured sausage.
- The word Paprika traveled an unusual path to German, moving from Ancient Greece through Slavic languages and Hungarian before it was adopted.
- Despite being called Paprika in German, the vegetable is actually an immigrant from the Americas.
Examples in context
- Ich kann diese roten Paprikas nicht kaufen.I can't buy these red bell peppers.This sentence shows how to use Paprika when expressing an inability to buy red bell peppers.Tatoeba #10478337 by Vortarulo, translation #7844487 by sharris123
- Man schneide die Paprika in zwei Zoll große Streifen.Cut the bell peppers into two-inch strips.This sentence demonstrates how to use Paprika when giving instructions to cut the vegetable into strips.Tatoeba #866899 by Esperantostern, translation #866497 by papabear
- Isst du Paprika?Do you eat bell peppers?This sentence shows how to use Paprika when asking if someone eats the vegetable.Tatoeba #1391248 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #707461 by papabear
- Gestern habe ich Paprika für den Salat gekauft.Yesterday, I bought bell peppers for the salad.
- Hast du Paprikaschoten für das Abendessen besorgt?Did you get bell peppers for dinner?
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
In a grocery store, Julia and Lukas are looking at vegetables.
- JuliaBrauchen wir noch Paprika für den Salat?Do we still need bell peppers for the salad?
- LukasJa, nimm bitte die gelben und die roten Paprika.Yes, please take the yellow and the red bell peppers.
- JuliaSoll ich auch eine grüne Paprika dazu nehmen?Should I also take a green bell pepper with them?
- LukasNein, die grünen schmecken mir nicht so gut.No, I don't like the green ones very much.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry Paprika, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Paprika, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
