Lachs
/laks/masculine
The German word for salmon is Lachs. Wiktionary also lists Salm.
Meaning: fish (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lachs | /laks/ | masculine |
| Salm | /zalm/ | masculine |
Lachs is used to refer to the fish in both biological and culinary contexts. If you are specifically referring to a salmon fillet when cooking, the term Lachsfilet is commonly used.
Which one should you use?
Lachs is the standard and most common word for salmon. Salm is also a masculine form of the word.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Lachs is a masculine noun. The plural form is Lachse, and the genitive singular form (meaning "of salmon") is Lachses.
How do you pronounce it?
/laks/
Did you know?
- The word Lachs descends from the Proto-Germanic word *lahsaz, which is a linguistic sibling to the English word 'lax', though they now have completely different meanings.
- The archaic form Salm shares a phonetic and historical connection with the word 'psalm'.
- German has a specific word Lachsfarben to describe the unique pinkish-orange color of the fish, which is widely used in the fashion industry.
Examples in context
- Ich mag gerne Lachs.I like salmon.This sentence shows how to express a preference for the fish using Lachs.Tatoeba #6923291 by wolfgangth, translation #6890585 by CK
- Ich esse keinen Lachs mehr.I don't eat salmon anymore.This sentence is useful for stating that you no longer consume Lachs.Tatoeba #9976623 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #9976175 by CK
- Ich will einen halben Lachs.I want half of a salmon.This sentence demonstrates how to request a specific quantity of Lachs.Tatoeba #9208748 by Yorwba, translation #9286783 by Ivan24
- Ich hätte gerne Lachs mit Kartoffeln, bitte.I would like salmon with potatoes, please.
- Gibt es hier frischen Atlantiklachs?Do you have fresh Atlantic salmon here?
- Entschuldigen Sie, ich möchte gerne den gebratenen Lachs mit Gemüse bestellen.Excuse me, I would like to order the grilled salmon with vegetables.
- 25 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Julia are shopping for food at a market.
- LukasIst der Lachs heute frisch?Is the salmon fresh today?
- JuliaJa, der Lachs kommt direkt vom Fischer.Yes, the salmon comes directly from the fisherman.
- LukasDann nehme ich diesen Lachs.Then I will take this salmon.
- JuliaGute Entscheidung, er schmeckt sehr gut.Good decision, it tastes very good.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “salmon” translations and entries Lachs, Salm, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Lachs, Salm, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
