German word of the day: Verwursten
This funny-sounding word can refer to much more than just a sausage
Why do I need to know verwursten?
The funny sounding word verb verwursten (which sounds like this) is a term referencing a very German product (the Wurst) but with a myriad of uses beyond just sausages.
What does it mean?
Verwursten can literally mean to mix together ingredients to make a Wurst (sausage) - or anything resembling it. Manufacturers of fake meat products can also "verwursten" tofu, tempeh and the likes to make a more palatable substitute for vegetarians.
Yet it's also slang for slapping together a bunch of ingredients - or elements of something - to make a final product. It is similar to the word verarbeiten, or to process.
A songwriter might take aspects of a story and verwursten it into their lyrics, as could a film writer with their movie.
Where does it come from?
Not surprisingly, the word stems from the world-famous Wurst, with which Germans profess a love-hate relationship. The sausage is a staple cuisine in many parts of the country, whether Blutwurst or the Currywurst common in the capital.
READ ALSO: Currywurst: The Berlin dish that wouldn't exist without the British
But despite its ubiquity, it's not considered to be the highest quality meat around. Like its American equivalent, the hotdog, the Wurst is a processed food made up of several ingredients. Give or take, it's mostly composed of muscle meat, salt, various spices and perhaps some intestines or other (not so) savoury parts.
A woman sells various types of Wurst at a market in Berlin-Schöneberg in May. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Christoph Soeder
The sausage was recently caught up in a nationwide controversy when an investigation revealed that some Wurst products were being 'verwurstet' from ingredients that don't usually belong in the recipe.
READ ALSO: The seven best and seven 'Wurst' German dishes
Here is how it's useful
Ein veganer Aufschnitt wird von Soya und Zwiebeln verwurstet.
Vegan cold cuts are being made out of soy and onions.
Sie haben diese gespannte Geschichte in einem Film verwurstet.
They made a film out of this suspenseful story.
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Why do I need to know verwursten?
The funny sounding word verb verwursten (which sounds like this) is a term referencing a very German product (the Wurst) but with a myriad of uses beyond just sausages.
What does it mean?
Verwursten can literally mean to mix together ingredients to make a Wurst (sausage) - or anything resembling it. Manufacturers of fake meat products can also "verwursten" tofu, tempeh and the likes to make a more palatable substitute for vegetarians.
Yet it's also slang for slapping together a bunch of ingredients - or elements of something - to make a final product. It is similar to the word verarbeiten, or to process.
A songwriter might take aspects of a story and verwursten it into their lyrics, as could a film writer with their movie.
Where does it come from?
Not surprisingly, the word stems from the world-famous Wurst, with which Germans profess a love-hate relationship. The sausage is a staple cuisine in many parts of the country, whether Blutwurst or the Currywurst common in the capital.
READ ALSO: Currywurst: The Berlin dish that wouldn't exist without the British
But despite its ubiquity, it's not considered to be the highest quality meat around. Like its American equivalent, the hotdog, the Wurst is a processed food made up of several ingredients. Give or take, it's mostly composed of muscle meat, salt, various spices and perhaps some intestines or other (not so) savoury parts.
The sausage was recently caught up in a nationwide controversy when an investigation revealed that some Wurst products were being 'verwurstet' from ingredients that don't usually belong in the recipe.
READ ALSO: The seven best and seven 'Wurst' German dishes
Here is how it's useful
Ein veganer Aufschnitt wird von Soya und Zwiebeln verwurstet.
Vegan cold cuts are being made out of soy and onions.
Sie haben diese gespannte Geschichte in einem Film verwurstet.
They made a film out of this suspenseful story.
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