noun

das Kraut, ¨-er

cabbage · herb

Eine grüne Pflanze mit weichen Blättern, die oft in der Küche zum Würzen oder als Gemüse verwendet wird.

Definition & meaning

The German word Kraut has several layers of meaning depending on the context:

Herb or plant: Generally, it refers to herbaceous plants, particularly those used for medicinal purposes (Heilkraut) or seasoning in cooking (Küchenkraut). In this context, the plural form "Kräuter" is most common.
Cabbage: In many regions of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, "Kraut" is a synonym for cabbage (Kohl). This is why the famous fermented dish is called "Sauerkraut."
Vegetable tops: It describes the leafy green parts of root vegetables that grow above the ground, such as the leaves of carrots or sugar beets (e.g., Rübenkraut).
Weeds: When used in the compound word "Unkraut," it refers to unwanted plants in a garden.

Grammar & Word origin

The word is a neuter noun (das Kraut). Its plural form is "die Kräuter."

Etymologically, it stems from the Middle High German "krūt" and the Old High German "krūt." It is related to the West Germanic root for "to sprout" or "to grow." Historically, it was used to categorize all small, non-woody plants, distinguishing them from trees and shrubs.