Zutat
/ˈt͡suːtaːt/feminine
The German word for ingredient is Zutat.
Zutat refers to a substance present in a mixture.
Meaning: substance present in a mixture (noun)
Which one should you use?
While Zutat is used for cooking and recipes, the word Inhaltsstoff is used for chemical or technical ingredients found in products like cosmetics or food labels.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Zutat is die Zutaten. The word follows standard feminine declension, such as the genitive singular form einer Zutat.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtsuːtaːt/
Did you know?
- German has a specific distinction between Zutat for a recipe and Zusatz for an additive, such as a preservative or a flavor enhancer.
- If a German speaker describes someone as the 'secret ingredient' of a team's success, they might use das Geheimrezept (the secret recipe) instead of die geheime Zutat.
- The word Zutat is built from the verb zutun, which literally means 'to add to'.
Examples in context
- Jede Zutat, die sich aufspießen lässt, kann verwendet werden.You can use any ingredient that can be skewered on a stick.This sentence shows how to use Zutat when talking about items that can be skewered on a stick.Tatoeba #12452302 by Yorwba, translation #11495155 by Cangarejo
- Eine Zutat jedes Glücks ist die Vorstellung, dass man es verdient hat.An ingredient you always find in happiness is the idea that you deserve it.This sentence illustrates the use of Zutat in a metaphorical context regarding happiness.Tatoeba #2262364 by Zaghawa, translation #12459445 by sundown
- Zum Rezept benötigen Sie folgende Zutaten: Mehl, Eier, Butter und Salz.For the recipe, you will need the following ingredients: flour, eggs, butter, and salt.
- Diese Chemikalie ist ein wichtiger Bestandteil des Produkts.This chemical is an important ingredient of the product.
- Ich weiß nicht, welche Zutaten sie verwendet hat, aber das Zeug schmeckt fantastisch!I don't know what ingredients she used, but this stuff tastes fantastic!
- Die wichtigste Zutat für den Kuchen ist Butter.The most important ingredient for the cake is butter.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Maximilian are cooking a meal together in their kitchen.
- JuliaMaximilian, hast du die letzte Zutat gekauft?Maximilian, did you buy the last ingredient?
- MaximilianJa, ich habe alles für das Rezept dabei.Yes, I have everything for the recipe with me.
- JuliaSuper, dann können wir jetzt anfangen.Great, then we can start now.
- MaximilianIch helfe dir gerne beim Schnippeln.I am happy to help you with the chopping.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ingredient” translations and entries Zutat, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Zutat, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
