German word

Ei

Pronunciation

IPA/aɪ̯/

Meaning

  • neuter nounegg

Example

Kannst du mir bitte ein Ei geben?

Can you please give me an egg?

Illustration for Ei (egg)

More examples

Im Café bestelle ich oft ein gebratenes Ei.

At the café, I often order a fried egg.

Core concept

A fragile oval shell enclosing a yolk and white, serving as food or the start of a bird's growth.

Common phrases

  • ein Ei zum Frühstück

    an egg for breakfast

  • ein gebratenes Ei

    a fried egg

Similar words

Eier: Whole eggs counted or used together in shopping and recipes.
Eigelb: The yellow part of an egg, used to add richness or bind ingredients.
Eiweiß: The protein-rich white part of an egg, often whipped for cooking.

Definition in German

Ein rundes bis ovales, von Schale umgebenes Lebensmittel und Fortpflanzungsprodukt von Vögeln.

Word origin

The German noun Ei is an inherited Germanic word that comes through Old High German ei from Proto-Germanic *ajja and is cognate with English egg.

Usage tips

  • Ei is neuter, with the forms das Ei, ein Ei, and the plural die Eier.

Related words

  • Spiegeleifried eggnoun
  • Eierbecheregg cupnoun

Word lists with this word