die Zwiebel
Translation
onion
Examples
Ich schneide eine Zwiebel für die Suppe.
I'm cutting an onion for the soup.
Zwiebeln bringen mich zum Weinen.
Onions make me cry.
Grammar Patterns
to chop/slice ((an onion)) I'm slicing an onion for the soup.
Similar Words
Synonyms: Bolle (regional term)
Etymology
Derived from Old High German 'zwibollo', which is related to the Latin 'cepulla' (small onion). The 'zwi-' prefix is popularly linked to 'zwei' (two) because of an onion's layers, though this is a folk etymology.
Memory Tips
Associate 'Zwiebel' with 'zwei' (two), imagining peeling back the two main layers of an onion, even though it's not the real origin.