Zimt

German

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /t͡sɪmt/

Etymology 1

From late Middle High German zimet, from earlier zinemīn, zinment, from Latin cinnamon, cinnamomum, from Ancient Greek κιννάμωμον (kinnámōmon), later κίνναμον (kínnamon), according to Herodotus from Phoenician, cognate with Hebrew קִנָּמוֹן (qinnāmōn).

Noun
der Zimt

Zimt m or n (strong, genitive Zimtes or Zimts, plural Zimte)

  1. (uncountable) cinnamon
    • 2013, Hanna Dinkelbach, Zimt-Missbrauch: Das Risiko als letzte Würze, in: Website of Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung
      Die Einnahme von Zimt löst einen schweren Würgereflex aus, weil das Gewürz in Mund und Rachen brennt, erklärt Hower: „Beim Luftholen kann das Zimt in die Lunge gelangen“.
      The consumption of cinnamon provokes a strong pharyngeal reflex because the spice stings in the mouth and throat, Hower explains: “When taking a breath, you can get the cinnamon into your lungs.”
  2. (countable) a particular kind of cinnamon
  3. (uncountable) the brownish colour of cinnamon
Usage notes
  • Traditionally and predominantly masculine, but also used as a neuter by some speakers. As a colour it is usually neuter.
Declension
Declension of Zimt [masculine // neuter, strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der, das Zimt die Zimte
genitive eines des Zimtes, Zimts der Zimte
dative einem dem Zimt, Zimte1 den Zimten
accusative einen, ein den, das Zimt die Zimte

1Now rare, see notes.

Alternative forms
Derived terms
  • zimt
  • zimtartig, zimtfarben
Descendants
  • → Lower Sorbian: cymt
  • → Macedonian: цимет (cimet)
  • → Serbo-Croatian: cìmet, цѝмет
  • → Slovene: cīmet
  • → Upper Sorbian: cymt
See also

Etymology 2

From Rotwelsch Zimt (“gold”).

Noun

Zimt m (strong, genitive Zimtes or Zimts, plural Zimte)

  1. something worthless or dumb
Declension
Declension of Zimt [masculine, strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der Zimt die Zimte
genitive eines des Zimtes, Zimts der Zimte
dative einem dem Zimt, Zimte1 den Zimten
accusative einen den Zimt die Zimte

1Now rare, see notes.

Further reading
  • “Zimt” in Duden online
  • “Zimt” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
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