Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Apfelwein | /ˈʔapfəlˌvaɪ̯n/ | general, masculine |
| Apfelmost | Southern, masculine | |
| Cidre | /ˈsiːdrə/ /ˈt͡siːdrə/ |
masculine |
The term refers to an alcoholic beverage made from fermented apple juice.
What does it mean word for word?
Apfelwein is a compound of Apfel (apple) and Wein (wine).
Which one should you use?
Apfelwein is the standard term for fermented apple juice used in most of Germany, while Apfelmost is the more common term in the south.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Cidre is used in German to refer specifically to French-style cider, which often implies a higher-end or imported product.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the southern parts of Germany, such as Bavaria, use Apfelmost. In the western regions of Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate, the term Viez is used to refer to traditional cider.
How does it change in a sentence?
All forms provided are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʔapfəlˌvaɪ̯n/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use Apfelsaft to mean cider. That term refers specifically to non-alcoholic apple juice.
Did you know?
- In Frankfurt and surrounding areas, Viez is the local word for cider. It is derived from the word Viertel meaning 'quarter', referring to the traditional quarter-litre glass used for serving it.
- Traditional Apfelwein in Hesse is often served in a Bembel, a distinctive bulbous stoneware jug that keeps the drink cool.
- The word Cidre shares a deep history with the word sicera in Latin, which originally comes from the Hebrew word šēḵār for an alcoholic drink.
Examples in context
- Trinkst du lieber Apfelwein oder Champagner?Which do you like better? Apple cider, or champagne?This sentence is useful for comparing a preference between Apfelwein and champagne.Tatoeba #11151294 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #11149283 by Solana
- Was trinkst du lieber? Apfelwein oder Champagner?Which do you like better, apple cider, or champagne?Tatoeba #11151295 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #11151275 by CK
- Es gab im Zelt auf dem Dorffest auch eine Theke, wo lauwarmes Bier und Apfelwein verkauft wurden.There was a bar inside the marquee at the village fete selling lukewarm beer and cider.This sentence is useful for describing the sale of Apfelwein at a village fete.Tatoeba #11567557 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #10808894 by sundown
- Ein Glas Apfelwein, bitte.A glass of cider, please.
- Könnten Sie mir bitte Apfelwein empfehlen?Could you please recommend a cider?
- Ich nehme einen Cidre, bitte.I'll take a cider, please.
- süßer ApfelweinSweet cider
- trockener ApfelweinDry cider
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hannah and Felix are at a local restaurant.
- HannahMöchtest du ein Glas Apfelwein bestellen?Would you like to order a glass of cider?
- FelixJa, das klingt sehr gut, Hannah.Yes, that sounds very good, Hannah.
- HannahIch nehme auch einen Apfelwein.I'll have a cider too.
- FelixIch freue mich auf das Getränk.I'm looking forward to the drink.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cider” translations and entries Apfelwein, Cidre, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Apfelwein, Cidre, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
