German Conversation · Level 12
90 words
German word
sauer
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈzaʊ̯ɐ/
Meaning
- adjectivesour
Example
Die Zitrone ist sauer.
The lemon is sour.
More examples
Das Joghurt schmeckt sauer.
The yogurt tastes sour.
Core concept
A sharp lemon taste makes the face tighten, like the tense expression of someone in a bad mood.
Common phrases
sauer schmecken
taste sour
sauer riechen
smell sour
sauer werden
turn sour
Similar words
verärgert: Feeling displeased and angry about a situation.
wütend: Feeling powerful, intense anger toward someone or something.
beleidigt: Feeling offended and upset by another person's conduct.
mürrisch: Having a sullen, unfriendly, and slightly irritable manner.
Definition in German
Bezeichnet einen sauren Geschmack; metaphorisch gebraucht drückt es Missmut aus, oft in Wendungen mit 'auf'.
Word origin
Sauer is an inherited Germanic adjective, related to Old High German sûr and English sour; its mood sense developed metaphorically from the taste.
Usage tips
- In "sauer auf jemanden sein", "auf" takes the accusative for the person who causes the anger.