German Conversation · Level 8
90 words
German word
Birne
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈbɪʁnə/
Meaning
- feminine nounpear
Example
Auf dem Markt gibt es viele Birnen.
There are many pears at the market.
More examples
Die Birne im Obstkorb war sehr saftig.
The pear in the fruit bowl was very juicy.
Core concept
A rounded form that narrows toward one end, like a pear, also describes pear-shaped bulbs and colloquial heads.
Common phrases
in Scheiben geschnittene Birnen
sliced pears
gekochte Birnen
cooked pears
eine Birne pflücken
pick a pear
Similar words
Apfel: A firm, round fruit often eaten crisp or used in cooked dishes.
Banane: A long, soft tropical fruit eaten after its peel is removed.
Orange: A citrus fruit eaten peeled or squeezed for its juice.
Glühbirne: A glass electric light source used for illumination.
Definition in German
Die essbare Frucht des Birnbaums, meist mit saftigem, süßlichem Fruchtfleisch und einer typischen birnenförmigen Silhouette.
Word origin
German Birne comes from Old High German birna, borrowed from Latin pirum or pira.
Usage tips
- In compounds such as Glühbirne, Birne can mean a light bulb, while the bare noun usually refers to the fruit; head-related uses are colloquial.
Other meanings
- light bulbnoun
- headnoun
Related words
- Birnenkompottpear compotenoun
- birnenartigpear-likeadjective