kraut
LowInformal (culinary); Highly informal and offensive (ethnic slur).
Definition
Meaning
A German dish of finely sliced cabbage fermented in its own juice (sauerkraut).
Informal and often derogatory slang for a German person, originating from the use of sauerkraut as a stereotypical German food.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The culinary sense is specific and non-controversial. The ethnic sense is a pejorative ethnic slur, considered offensive and dated, with its peak derogatory use during the World Wars.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The culinary term 'sauerkraut' is more common than the standalone 'kraut' in both varieties. The derogatory term is understood in both but is perhaps slightly more recognized in American English due to historical military contexts.
Connotations
Primarily negative and offensive when referring to a person. The food term is neutral but less common than 'sauerkraut'.
Frequency
Very low frequency in modern usage due to the offensiveness of the slur. The food term appears mainly in culinary contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[N] as [Food] (The sausage was served with kraut.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except potentially in food import/export.
Academic
Rare; may appear in historical or cultural studies regarding stereotypes or WWII.
Everyday
Rare for the food term (prefer 'sauerkraut'); extremely rare and inappropriate for the ethnic term.
Technical
Used in culinary arts or food science contexts referring to the fermentation process.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I tried kraut on my sausage. It was sour.
- Do you like sauerkraut? Some people call it just 'kraut'.
- The recipe required a pound of fresh kraut to be rinsed before use.
- The term 'kraut', once a common ethnic slur, is now considered deeply offensive and is largely avoided in polite discourse.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'cr'outon' - both are crunchy foods, but KRAUT is fermented cabbage.
Conceptual Metaphor
FOOD FOR NATIONALITY (derogatory): Using a staple food to metonymically and pejoratively represent an entire nation.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Mistranslation with 'капуста' (cabbage) without the fermented meaning.
- Unawareness of the strong offensive connotation when used to refer to people, leading to severe social blunders.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'kraut' innocently to mean a German person, not realizing it is offensive.
- Using 'kraut' alone casually for the food; 'sauerkraut' is the standard, safer term.
Practice
Quiz
In modern English, what is the most important consideration when using the word 'kraut'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in a culinary context, it can be, but the full term 'sauerkraut' is vastly more common and unambiguous.
It reduces an individual to a national stereotype (food) and has a history of use as a derogatory term, particularly during wartime, expressing hostility or contempt.
It is highly recommended to use the full term 'sauerkraut' when ordering or discussing food to avoid any potential misunderstanding or offence.
No, in reference to people, it is exclusively a derogatory slur with no acceptable neutral or positive use in contemporary English.