Aubergine
/obɛrˈʒiːnə/feminine
The German word for eggplant is Aubergine. Wiktionary also lists Eierfrucht and Melanzani.
Meaning: edible fruit (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Aubergine | /obɛrˈʒiːnə/ /-bər-/ |
feminine |
| Eierfrucht | /ˈaɪ̯ɐˌfʁʊxt/ | feminine |
| Melanzani | /melanˈt͡saːni/ | Austrian, feminine |
This term refers to the edible fruit commonly known as eggplant.
Which one should you use?
Aubergine is the standard and most common word used in German. Eierfrucht is another term for the same fruit. In Austria and parts of southern Germany, the term Melanzani is also used.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Melanzani is used specifically in Austria and parts of southern Germany.
How does it change in a sentence?
Aubergine is a feminine noun, which means it takes the definite article die.
How do you pronounce it?
/obɛrˈʒiːnə/
Did you know?
- The word Melanzani is borrowed from the Italian melanzana, which originally stems from the Sanskrit word for 'little apple'.
- In German culinary contexts, Melanzani is frequently seen on menus in Austria to signal a Mediterranean or specifically Italian influence in the dish.
- The different forms Aubergine and Melanzani are actually doublets, meaning they share the same distant linguistic origin despite sounding different.
Examples in context
- Er hat eine Aubergine.He has an eggplant.This sentence shows how to express possession of an Aubergine.Tatoeba #13623029 by Vortarulo, translation #11499608 by Ibtarabishy
- Die Aubergine war deliziös.The eggplant was delicious.This sentence describes the taste of an Aubergine.Tatoeba #13067755 by Waldelfe, translation #12354062 by CK
- Die Aubergine war vorzüglich.The eggplant was great.This sentence describes the quality of an Aubergine.Tatoeba #9324570 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #9320719 by shekitten
- Ich habe gestern eine köstliche Lasagne mit Aubergine gekocht.Yesterday, I cooked a delicious lasagna with eggplant.
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Maximilian are shopping for vegetables at a market.
- JuliaBrauchen wir noch eine Aubergine?Do we still need an eggplant?
- MaximilianJa, die Aubergine hier sieht frisch aus.Yes, this eggplant looks fresh.
- JuliaSoll ich sie in den Korb legen?Should I put it in the basket?
- MaximilianJa, bitte, Julia.Yes, please, Julia.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “eggplant” translations and entries Aubergine, Eierfrucht, Melanzani, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Aubergine, Eierfrucht, Melanzani, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
