nounnoun

der Strudel, –

strudel

Definition & meaning

The word "Strudel" primarily carries three different meanings in German:

Culinary: It refers to a traditional type of pastry made from thin layers of dough that are rolled up around a filling. While the sweet version, such as Apfelstrudel , is the most famous, savory versions also exist.
Hydrological: It describes a vortex or whirlpool in a body of water. This is a circular current that can pull objects toward its center or downward.
Figurative: It is often used to describe a metaphorical "whirlpool" of events, emotions, or social developments that draws someone in and is difficult to escape. This is frequently phrased as "ein Strudel der Ereignisse" (a vortex of events).

Grammar & Word origin

Grammatically, "Strudel" is a masculine noun: der Strudel. The plural form is identical to the singular: die Strudel.

The word originates from Middle High German and Old High German, where it meant "whirlpool." It is etymologically related to the German verb sprudeln , which means "to bubble" or "to gush." The culinary sense of the word emerged in the 18th century, likely because the layers of dough in the pastry resemble the concentric circles of a water vortex.