German word

Sekt

Pronunciation

IPA/zɛkt/

Meaning

  • masculine nounsparkling wine

Example

Der Geschmack des Sekts ist sehr fein.

The taste of the sparkling wine is very delicate.

Illustration for Sekt (sparkling wine)

More examples

Wir haben mit kaltem Sekt angestoßen.

We toasted with chilled sparkling wine.

Core concept

A festive pour combines wine with lively bubbles, making a normally still drink sparkle in the glass.

Common phrases

  • mit Sekt anstoßen

    toast with sparkling wine

  • ein Glas Sekt

    a glass of sparkling wine

Similar words

Schaumwein: A general term for sparkling wine in German-speaking regions.
Champagner: A prestigious sparkling wine made in France's Champagne region.
Prosecco: An Italian sparkling wine made from Glera grapes, known for light bubbles.
Cava: A Spanish sparkling wine made in designated regions, often by traditional methods.

Definition in German

Sekt ist ein perlender oder schäumender Wein, der durch zweite Gärung oder Zugabe von Kohlensäure prickelt und oft bei Feiern getrunken wird.

Word origin

German Sekt comes from the shortened form Sektwein, whose first element reflects English sack, an older word for a type of imported wine; the sense later narrowed to sparkling wine.

Usage tips

  • For Sekt, trocken describes sweetness rather than the absence of bubbles, so trocken can still refer to a fully sparkling drink.

Opposites

  • Stillweinstill winenoun

Related words

  • Sektglassparkling-wine glassnoun
  • Sektkellereisparkling-wine winerynoun

Word lists with this word