Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Speiserübe | /ˈʃpaɪzəˌʁyːbə/ | feminine |
| Mairübe | feminine | |
| Teltower Rübchen | neuter | |
| Herbstrübe | feminine | |
| Wasserrübe | feminine | |
| Stoppelrübe | feminine | |
| Weiße Rübe | /ˈvaɪ̯sə ˈʁyːbə/ (word by word) | feminine |
| Bayrische Rübe | feminine | |
| Rübsen | /ˈʁyːpsən/ /ˈʁʏpsən/ (also) |
masculine |
| Rübsamen | masculine |
The term Speiserübe refers specifically to the edible white root of Brassica rapa. In everyday German, the shortened form Rübe is commonly used to refer to various types of root vegetables or turnips in general.
What does it mean word for word?
Speiserübe is a compound noun consisting of Speise (food or meal) and Rübe (turnip or root vegetable).
Which one should you use?
While several terms exist, they refer to different specific varieties or types. Mairübe, Herbstrübe, Wasserrübe, Stoppelrübe, Weiße Rübe and Bayrische Rübe are all specific varieties of the vegetable. Teltower Rübchen refers to a specific type and is a neuter noun. Rübsen and Rübsamen are masculine nouns. Note that if you specifically mean a rutabaga or swede, the term is Steckrübe.
How does it change in a sentence?
Speiserübe, Mairübe, Herbstrübe, Wasserrübe, Stoppelrübe, Weiße Rübe and Bayrische Rübe are all feminine nouns. Teltower Rübchen is a neuter noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʃpaɪzəˌʁyːbə/
Did you know?
- In German, calling someone a Rübe is a common way to call them a 'dummy' or an 'idiot'.
- Germans use the word Rübe to refer to the human head in very informal or regional slang, similar to how an English speaker might use 'noggin'.
- The Teltower Rübchen is so culturally significant that it has a protected geographical status and is considered a gourmet delicacy in Berlin.
Examples in context
- In diesem Restaurant haben sie köstliche Rübensuppe.In this restaurant, they have delicious turnip soup.
- Können Sie mir bitte eine Steckrübe geben?Could you please give me a rutabaga?
- Die Speiserübe ist sehr gesund.The turnip is very healthy.
- Ich kaufe eine große Speiserübe.I am buying a large turnip.
- Möchtest du eine Speiserübe essen?Do you want to eat a turnip?
Example conversation
In a kitchen, preparing a vegetable stew.
- SarahHast du eine Speiserübe für den Eintopf?Do you have a turnip for the stew?
- MaximilianJa, ich habe sie gerade geschnitten.Yes, I have just cut it.
- SarahDas sieht gut aus, Maximilian.That looks good, Maximilian.
- MaximilianDanke, Sarah, ich koche sie jetzt.Thanks, Sarah, I am cooking it now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “turnip” translations and entries Speiserübe, Rübsen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (Weiße, Rübe) and can differ in connected speech.
