Lebkuchenhaus
[ˈleːpkuːxn̩ˌhaʊ̯s]neuter
The English phrase gingerbread house is translated into German as Lebkuchenhaus. Wiktionary also lists Pfefferkuchenhaus.
Meaning: novelty confectionery (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lebkuchenhaus | [ˈleːpkuːxn̩ˌhaʊ̯s] (narrow) | neuter |
| Pfefferkuchenhaus | neuter |
What does it mean word for word?
The word Lebkuchenhaus is a compound of Lebkuchen (gingerbread) and Haus (house).
Which one should you use?
Lebkuchenhaus is the more common term for a gingerbread house, whereas Pfefferkuchenhaus specifically refers to a house made of Pfefferkuchen, which is a specific type of spiced gingerbread.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Lebkuchenhaus is Lebkuchenhäuser. When used in the dative case to indicate a location after the preposition 'in', the indefinite article becomes einem and the noun remains Lebkuchenhaus, as seen in the phrase einem Lebkuchenhaus.
Did you know?
- While Lebkuchen means 'gingerbread', the word Lebkuchen actually translates literally as 'bread of Saint Nicholas' or 'cake of life'.
- Traditionally, Lebkuchen makers belonged to a highly protected guild, and the recipes for the spiced dough were kept as closely guarded family secrets for centuries.
- While an English speaker might see a 'gingerbread house' as just a decoration, a German child might use the term Hexenhaus (witch's house) to describe it, directly referencing the Brothers Grimm fairy tale.
Examples in context
- Die Hexe wohnte in einem Lebkuchenhaus in der Mitte des Waldes.The witch lived in a gingerbread house in the middle of the forest.This sentence describes a witch living in a Lebkuchenhaus.Tatoeba #6692390 by maaster, translation #6692501 by maaster
- Würden Sie bitte ein Lebkuchenhaus für mich dekorieren?Would you please decorate a gingerbread house for me?
- Können Sie mir zeigen, wie man ein Lebkuchenhaus herstellt?Can you show me how to make a gingerbread house?
- Ich habe ein wunderschönes Lebkuchenhaus als Geschenk erhalten.I received a beautiful gingerbread house as a gift.
- Kannst du mir bitte helfen, mein Pfefferkuchenhaus zu dekorieren?Can you please help me decorate my gingerbread house?
- Das Lebkuchenhaus steht auf dem Tisch.The gingerbread house is standing on the table.
- Wir dekorieren heute ein Lebkuchenhaus.We are decorating a gingerbread house today.
Example conversation
Hannah and Julian are decorating Christmas treats together.
- HannahJulian, willst du mir beim Lebkuchenhaus helfen?Julian, do you want to help me with the gingerbread house?
- JulianJa, gerne! Wo sind die Zuckerstreusel?Yes, gladly! Where are the sprinkles?
- HannahHier sind sie, damit das Lebkuchenhaus schön bunt wird.Here they are, so that the gingerbread house becomes colorful.
- JulianDas wird das beste Haus im ganzen Dorf.That will be the best house in the whole village.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gingerbread house” translations and entries Lebkuchenhaus, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
