German word

backen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈbakən/

Meaning

  • verbbake

Example

Ich backe heute einen Kuchen.

I'm baking a cake today.

Illustration for backen (bake)

More examples

Für das Fest wollen sie Brot backen.

They want to bake bread for the festival.

Core concept

A soft dough or batter changes in steady oven heat into a browned, firm food.

Common phrases

  • im Backofen backen

    bake in the oven

  • Brot backen

    bake bread

Similar words

braten: Cook food with fat or direct heat until browned and done inside.
kochen: Cook ingredients in water or soup until heated through and tender.
grillen: Cook food briefly over direct heat or a grate until its surface browns.
rösten: Dry-roast seeds, beans, or vegetables without oil for a fragrant, browned finish.

Definition in German

Mit trockener Hitze, meist im Ofen, Lebensmittel wie Brot oder Kuchen so zubereiten, dass sie außen gebräunt und innen durchgegart sind.

Word origin

Backen is an inherited Germanic verb related to Old High German backan and English bake.

Usage tips

  • The present-tense forms are ich backe, du backst, and er, sie, es backt or bäckt; both third-person forms are standard.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word