Nudel
/ˈnuːdəl/feminine
The German word for noodle is Nudel.
Nudel is the most general and commonly used term for noodle in German, referring to a string or flat strip of pasta or other dough.
Meaning: string or flat strip of pasta or other dough (noun)
Which one should you use?
Nudel is the singular form, whereas Nudeln is the plural form. While Nudel is the singular form, Germans almost always use the plural Nudeln when referring to pasta as a general food item or a meal.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of Nudel is Nudeln. When forming compound nouns, such as 'noodle salad', the singular Nudel often takes an '-s-' as a linking element, resulting in Nudelsalat.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈnuːdəl/
Did you know?
- In German, calling someone a Nudel is a playful, mild way to call them a 'silly person' or a 'goofball'.
- The term Nudelland is sometimes used humorously in Germany to refer to Italy.
- Some linguists believe Nudel actually comes from the Latin word 'minutulus', meaning 'tiny piece of dough'.
Examples in context
- Tom aß eine Nudelsuppe.Tom had a noodle soup.This sentence shows the use of Nudel in the context of noodle soup.Tatoeba #1692640 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1485294 by Spamster
- Meine Mutter macht den Nudelsalat.My mum is making noodle salad.This sentence demonstrates how Nudel forms the compound noun Nudelsalat.Tatoeba #706099 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #10153543 by sundown
- Kilonis isst gern „nokedli“, ein ungarisches Nudelgericht.Kilonis likes to eat "nokedli", a Hungarian noodle dish.This sentence uses Nudel to describe a Hungarian noodle dish.Tatoeba #11746303 by mhr, translation #11746217 by Solana
- BandnudelnRibbon noodles
- EiernudelnEgg noodles
- Ich hätte gerne eine Schüssel Spaghetti BologneseI would like a bowl of spaghetti Bolognese
Example conversation
Felix and Julia are cooking dinner together.
- FelixWelche Nudel sollen wir heute kochen?Which noodle should we cook today?
- JuliaIch möchte lieber eine breite Nudel.I would prefer a wide noodle.
- FelixOkay, ich nehme diese Nudel aus dem Schrank.Okay, I'll take this noodle from the cupboard.
- JuliaSuper, danke Felix!Great, thanks Felix!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “noodle” translations and entries Nudel, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Nudel, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
