Eigelb
/ˈaɪ̯ɡɛlp/neuter
The English word 'yolk' is translated into German as Eigelb, Dotter or Eidotter.
Meaning: yellow of egg (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Eigelb | /ˈaɪ̯ɡɛlp/ | neuter |
| Dotter | /ˈdɔtɐ/ | Southern |
| Eidotter | masculine, neuter |
All these terms refer to the yellow part of an egg.
What does it mean word for word?
Eigelb is a compound of Ei (egg) and Gelb (yellow). Eidotter is a compound of Ei (egg) and Dotter (yolk).
Which one should you use?
Eigelb is the standard term used in technical or nutritional contexts, whereas Dotter is the common term used in everyday cooking and recipes.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Dotter is particularly common in Southern Germany and Austria.
How does it change in a sentence?
Eigelb is a neuter noun and takes the article das. Eidotter can be used as either a masculine or a neuter noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈaɪ̯ɡɛlp/
Did you know?
- Depending on the region, Eidotter can be treated as either a masculine or a neuter noun, which is rare for most German nouns.
- The word Dotter shares an ancient root with the Proto-West Germanic word *dodrō, showing its deep history before modern German existed.
- In German, the word Gelb serves as both the adjective 'yellow' and the noun 'yellow', which is why Eigelb literally translates to 'egg yellow'.
Examples in context
- Er trennte den Dotter vom Eiweiß.He separated the yolk from the white.This sentence shows how to use Dotter to describe separating the yolk from the white.Tatoeba #10369558 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #10369394 by DJ_Saidez
- Wie oft seht ihr Eier mit zwei Dottern?How often do you see double-yolk eggs?This sentence uses Dotter to refer to the yolks in eggs.Tatoeba #12665243 by Waldelfe, translation #11760531 by CK
- Selbst wenn ich beide Hände nehme, kann ich kein Ei aufschlagen, ohne den Dotter zu verletzen.Even if I use both hands, I can't crack an egg without breaking the yolk.This sentence shows the use of Dotter when talking about breaking a yolk while cracking an egg.Tatoeba #1790683 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1430129 by CK
- Bitte geben Sie mir nur das Eigelb vom Ei.Please give me only the yolk of the egg.
- Könntest du mir bitte nur den Dotter vom Ei geben?Could you please give me just the yolk of the egg?
- Das Omelett schmeckt am besten mit Eigelb.The omelet tastes best with yolk.
- Der Kuchen benötigt vier Dotter.The cake needs four yolks.
- Könnten Sie bitte das Eigelb von den Eiern trennen?Could you please separate the yolk from the eggs?
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Julia are preparing breakfast together.
- LukasBrauchen wir für den Kuchen nur das Eigelb?Do we only need the yolk for the cake?
- JuliaJa, schlag das Eigelb bitte in diese Schüssel.Yes, please beat the yolk into this bowl.
- LukasSoll ich das Eiweiß separat aufbewahren?Should I keep the egg white separate?
- JuliaJa, das können wir später für etwas anderes nutzen.Yes, we can use that for something else later.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yolk” translations and entries Eigelb, Dotter, Eidotter, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Dotter, Eigelb, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
