Brötchen
/ˈbʁøːtçən/
The German word for roll is Brötchen.
Brötchen refers to a bread roll.
Meaning: to turn over and over (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The word Brötchen is the diminutive form of Brot (bread), so it literally means "little bread".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Southern Germany and Austria, you might hear Semmel used for a roll. In Berlin and Northern Germany, the term Schrippe is used. Additionally, in Southern Germany and parts of Switzerland, the terms Weckle or Wecken are used to mean a roll.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word Brötchen is used for both the singular "roll" and the plural "rolls".
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbʁøːtçən/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using the German word Rolle to refer to a bread roll. In German, Rolle refers to a cylinder, a scroll or a role in a play.
Did you know?
- In Germany, the tradition of the Brötchenkauf involves a morning ritual where people walk to a local bakery to buy fresh rolls daily rather than buying sliced bread in supermarkets.
- In some regions of Germany, the word Schrippe is used for a roll, which is believed to come from the word 'stripping' or 'tearing' because of how the bread is split open.
- The suffix -chen in Brötchen not only makes the bread 'little' but also makes the word grammatically neuter regardless of the original noun's gender.
Examples in context
- Mit was für einem Belag hätten Sie Ihr Brötchen denn gerne?What sort of filling would you like in your roll?This sentence is useful for asking about a desired filling for a Brötchen.Tatoeba #10714482 by Yorwba, translation #11927018 by sundown
- Ich möchte ein Brötchen mit Käse und noch eins mit Konfitüre, wenn das möglich ist.I'd like a cheese roll and a jam roll, if that's possible.This sentence is useful for ordering a Brötchen with specific toppings.Tatoeba #1268137 by al_ex_an_der, translation #12256151 by sundown
- „Das Brötchen sieht aber gut aus! Was ist denn da drauf?“ – „Salami, Gurke, Salat und Ei. Es war auch ganz schön teuer. 2,50 € hat es gekostet.“"That roll looks quite nice. What's in it?" "Salami, cucumber, lettuce and egg. It was quite dear, as well. It cost €2.50."This sentence is useful for describing the appearance and contents of a Brötchen.Tatoeba #8564884 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #10119790 by sundown
- Könnte ich bitte ein Brötchen haben?Could I please have a roll?
- Ich hätte gerne eine Semmel, bitte.I would like a roll, please.
- Könnten Sie mir bitte eine Schrippe geben?Could you please give me a roll?
- Ich hole gleich ein paar Brötchen beim Bäcker.I'll go and get some rolls at the bakery.
- Kannst du mir bitte ein Weckle holen?Could you please get me a roll?
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Julian are eating breakfast in the kitchen.
- JuliaWillst du noch ein Brötchen?Do you want another roll?
- JulianJa, bitte. Hast du auch Butter?Yes, please. Do you also have butter?
- JuliaJa, hier ist ein Brötchen mit Butter.Yes, here is a roll with butter.
- JulianDanke, Julia. Das ist sehr nett.Thanks, Julia. That is very kind.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry Brötchen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
