Kartoffel
/kaʁˈtɔfəl/feminine
The German word for potato is Kartoffel. Wiktionary also lists Erdapfel and Grumbeere.
Meaning: plant tuber eaten as starchy vegetable (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Kartoffel | /kaʁˈtɔfəl/ (standard) /kɐˈtɔfəl/ (common) |
feminine |
| Erdapfel | /ˈeːɐ̯tˌʔa.p͡fl̩/ | Austria, Southern Germany, masculine |
| Grumbeere | /ɡʁʊmˈbeːʁə/ | Germany, Southwestern, feminine |
| Erdbirne | feminine | |
| Grundbirne | /ˈɡʁʊntˌbɪʁ.nə/ | feminine |
The term refers to the starchy plant tuber eaten as a vegetable.
What does it mean word for word?
The term Erdapfel is a compound of Erde (earth) and Apfel (apple).
Which one should you use?
While Kartoffel is the standard term, other regional variations exist such as Erdapfel, Grumbeere, Erdbirne and Grundbirne.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Erdapfel is the common term used in Austria and Southern Germany. Grumbeere is used in Southwestern Germany.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Kartoffel is Kartoffeln. Note that Kartoffel is a feminine noun, while Erdapfel is masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
/kaʁˈtɔfəl/
Did you know?
- The standard word Kartoffel actually has its roots in the word for 'truffle'. It is a diminutive of the Italian word tartufo, which originally referred to the luxury fungus.
- In certain contexts, the word for potato can be used as a playful or ethnic nickname for a German person, similar to calling an Italian person 'Spaghetti'.
Examples in context
- Ich bin eine Kartoffel.I am a potato.This sentence uses Kartoffel to translate the subject.Tatoeba #13471692 by Vortarulo, translation #6590457 by Eccles17
- Isst du gern Kartoffelbrei?Do you like mashed potato?This sentence uses Kartoffel to refer to mashed potato.Tatoeba #6203528 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #11153039 by sundown
- Er isst gerne Kartoffelsalat.He likes potato salad.This sentence uses Kartoffel to refer to potato salad.Tatoeba #1721556 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1721091 by Spamster
- Ich esse gerne KartoffelnI enjoy eating potatoes
- Ich bevorzuge Erdäpfel statt ReisI prefer potatoes over rice
- Lass uns heute Abend Bratkartoffeln essenLet's have fried potatoes tonight
- In Deutschland sind Kartoffeln ein Grundnahrungsmittel.In Germany, potatoes are a staple food.
- Ich möchte bitte eine Portion Erdäpfelsalat.I would like a portion of potato salad, please.
- Kannst du heute Abend die Kartoffeln schälen?Can you peel the potatoes tonight?
- Lass uns Kartoffelsuppe kochen, es ist so kalt draußen!Let's make potato soup, it's so cold outside!
- 110 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hannah and Felix are cooking in the kitchen.
- FelixHannah, hast du eine Kartoffel gefunden?Hannah, did you find a potato?
- HannahJa, ich habe eine Kartoffel hier.Yes, I have a potato here.
- FelixGut, dann kann ich sie schälen.Good, then I can peel it.
- HannahFelix, bitte sei vorsichtig beim Schneiden.Felix, please be careful while cutting.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “potato” translations and entries Kartoffel, Erdapfel, Grumbeere, Erdbirne, Grundbirne, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Erdapfel, Erdbirne, Grumbeere, Kartoffel, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
