Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sandwich | /ˈsɛntvɪt͡ʃ/ (Germany) /ˈzɛntvɪt͡ʃ/ (Germany) |
masculine, neuter |
| belegtes Brot | [bəˈleːktəs bʁoːt] (Germany, narrow) [beˈleːktɛs bʁoːt] (narrow) |
neuter |
| Stulle | /ʃtʊlə/ | feminine |
| Schnitte | /ˈʃnɪtə/ (Germany) /ˈʃnɪtɛ/ (Austria, Southern Germany, Switzerland) |
feminine |
In German, the terms used for a sandwich vary depending on whether you are referring to a modern sliced-bread sandwich or a more general piece of bread with toppings. belegtes Brot is a general term for any bread with various toppings, such as cheese or ham and it is a staple of the Abendbrot culture, where a meal consists of bread with cold cuts and cheeses. Related verbs such as einklemmen or einzwängen can describe the action of placing one item between two other flat items.
What does it mean word for word?
The term belegtes Brot literally means topped bread.
Which one should you use?
The loanword Sandwich typically refers to a modern, often triangular or sliced-bread sandwich. In contrast, belegtes Brot is a more general standard term for any bread with various toppings. While Sandwich can be used as a masculine or neuter noun, belegtes Brot is neuter.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Stulle is an informal term originating from the north of Germany, particularly Berlin and refers to an open-faced sandwich on a slice of bread. In Southern Germany and Austria, the colloquial term Schnitte is common. In the Rhineland, the local term Röggelchen is used for a sandwich made with rye bread.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of Sandwich is Sandwiches. The plural of belegtes Brot is belegte Brote.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈsɛntvɪtʃ/
When do people say it?
In Germany, the consumption of belegtes Brot is central to the Abendbrot tradition, a meal where bread with various cold cuts and cheeses is eaten in the evening.
Did you know?
- The word Brot is an ancient relative of the English word 'brew'. In its earliest forms, the word referred to things that had been fermented or leavened.
- In Germany, belegtes Brot is a core part of Abendbrot, a traditional evening meal consisting primarily of bread and cold toppings rather than a hot dish.
Examples in context
- Gib mir dein Sandwich.Give me your sandwich.This sentence is useful for asking someone for their Sandwich.Tatoeba #8599495 by Roujin, translation #3135736 by Hybrid
- Tom will ein Sandwich.Tom wants a sandwich.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire for a Sandwich.Tatoeba #12425480 by mayabe, translation #2011608 by CK
- Hier ist dein Sandwich.Here's your sandwich.This sentence is useful for pointing out someone's Sandwich.Tatoeba #10007367 by MisterTrouser, translation #8341075 by CK
- Ich hätte gerne ein Sandwich mit Schinken und Käse, bitteI would like a sandwich with ham and cheese, please
- 78 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Laura and Lukas are having a picnic in the park.
- LauraHast du ein Sandwich für mich dabei?Do you have a sandwich with you for me?
- LukasJa, ich habe ein Sandwich eingepackt.Yes, I packed a sandwich.
- LauraDas ist sehr lieb von dir, Lukas.That is very kind of you, Lukas.
- LukasGerne, ich teile mein Sandwich gerne mit dir.You're welcome, I am happy to share my sandwich with you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sandwich” translations and entries Sandwich, belegtes Brot, Stulle, Schnitte, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Brot, Sandwich, Schnitte, Stulle, belegtes Brot, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
