Macis
/ˈmat͡sɪs/feminine
The English word mace (the spice) is translated into German as Macis or Muskatblüte.
Meaning: a spice (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Macis | /ˈmat͡sɪs/ | feminine |
| Muskatblüte | /mʊsˈkaːtˌblyːtə/ | feminine |
Macis is used as a technical or botanical term, whereas Muskatblüte is the word you will encounter in everyday life.
What does it mean word for word?
The common term Muskatblüte is a compound word consisting of Muskat (nutmeg) and Blüte (flower or blossom).
Which one should you use?
While Macis is the technical botanical name, Muskatblüte is the much more common word used in everyday German cooking and when grocery shopping.
How does it change in a sentence?
The common term Muskatblüte is a feminine noun, appearing as die Muskatblüte when used with a definite article.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of Macis is /ˈmatsɪs/.
Did you know?
- The word Macis traveled through Middle French and Medieval Latin before entering German, originally stemming from the Ancient Greek word μάκιρ.
- While 'mace' in English can refer to a ceremonial staff, the German term Muskatblüte is strictly limited to the spice and cannot be used for the object.
- The everyday word Muskatblüte literally translates to 'nutmeg blossom'. This reflects the botanical fact that mace is the lacy red covering, or aril, that wraps around the nutmeg seed.
Examples in context
- Hast du Muskatblüte in deinem Gewürzschrank?Do you have mace in your spice cabinet?
Example conversation
Julia and Felix are cooking together in the kitchen.
- JuliaFelix, haben wir noch Macis im Schrank?Felix, do we still have mace in the cupboard?
- FelixIch glaube nicht, schau mal nach.I don't think so, have a look.
- JuliaHier ist es, aber nur eine kleine Menge Macis.Here it is, but only a small amount of mace.
- FelixDas sollte für das Rezept reichen.That should be enough for the recipe.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mace” translations and entries Macis, Muskatblüte, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Macis, Muskatblüte, CC BY-SA 4.0.
