German word

grillen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈgʁɪlən/

Meaning

  • verbgrill

Example

Am Wochenende grillen wir am See.

On the weekend, we grill by the lake.

Illustration for grillen (grill)

More examples

Beim Camping grillen wir über offenem Feuer.

While camping, we grill over an open fire.

Core concept

Food is held above a flame on a metal grid until the outside becomes browned and aromatic.

Common phrases

  • grillen am Lagerfeuer

    grill by the campfire

  • grillen über offenem Feuer

    grill over an open fire

  • grillen auf dem Campingplatz

    grill at the campsite

Similar words

braten: Cooking food fully in a pan or oven with oil or fat.
rösten: Dry-heating beans, nuts, or bread to brown the surface and remove moisture.

Definition in German

Etwas auf einem Rost über Kohle oder offener Flamme garen, dabei die Oberfläche bräunen

Word origin

German adopted "grillen" from "Grill", whose history leads through French "gril" to the Latin word "craticula" for a small grate.

Usage tips

  • In colloquial German, "jemanden grillen" can mean questioning someone intensely, a figurative use beyond cooking.

Other meanings

  • broilverb

Related words

  • Grillgutfood for grillingnoun
  • Grillmeistergrill masternoun
  • Gegrilltesgrilled foodnoun

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