Kürbis
/ˈkʏr.bɪs/masculine
The German word for pumpkin is Kürbis. Wiktionary also lists Kürbisfrucht.
Meaning: fruit of this plant (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Kürbis | /ˈkʏr.bɪs/ | masculine |
| Kürbisfrucht | feminine |
The word refers to the fruit of the pumpkin plant. You can use it in compound words, such as Kürbissuppe (pumpkin soup) or Kürbissorte (pumpkin variety).
Which one should you use?
Kürbis is the common word for the pumpkin itself. Kürbisfrucht is a more technical or botanical term meaning 'pumpkin fruit'.
How does it change in a sentence?
Kürbis is a masculine noun. The plural form is Kürbisse. Because Kürbis is a masculine noun, it takes the ending -en in the accusative case when it is the direct object of a sentence, becoming einen Kürbis.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkʏr.bɪs/ (2 syllables, stress on the 1st syllable)
Did you know?
- In Austria, Kürbiskernöl (pumpkin seed oil) is considered a high-end gourmet condiment and is a staple of the regional culinary identity.
- While 'pumpkin' is often a term of endearment in English, calling someone a Kürbis in German would not be understood as a romantic or sweet gesture.
- Germans make a strict linguistic distinction between the edible Kürbis and the Zierkürbis, which are gourds grown solely for decoration.
Examples in context
- Ist roher Kürbis essbar?Is eating raw pumpkin safe?This sentence shows how to ask if a raw Kürbis is edible.Tatoeba #4670407 by Manfredo, translation #954003 by CK
- Was für ein großer Kürbis!What a big pumpkin!This sentence is an exclamation about the size of a Kürbis.Tatoeba #443993 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #36069 by CK
- Mein Kürbis war der beste.My pumpkin was the best.This sentence expresses that one's Kürbis was the best.Tatoeba #6105656 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2818965 by Hybrid
- Bitte geben Sie mir einen Kürbis für die Suppe.Please give me a pumpkin for the soup.
- In meinem Garten habe ich einen Hokkaido-Kürbis angebaut.I have grown a Hokkaido pumpkin in my garden.
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Lukas are at a local farmer's market.
- JuliaDieser Kürbis hier ist sehr schwer.This pumpkin here is very heavy.
- LukasSoll ich den Kürbis für dich tragen?Should I carry the pumpkin for you?
- JuliaJa, das wäre sehr nett, Lukas.Yes, that would be very kind, Lukas.
- LukasKein Problem, ich helfe dir gerne.No problem, I am happy to help you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pumpkin” translations and entries Kürbis, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
