From birthday parties to bakeries to cozy Sunday afternoons, the word cake in German is essential if you ever want to talk about food, treats, or German culture. It’s simple, common, and part of some of the most charming vocabulary in the language.
The word is Kuchen — pronounced “KOO-khen,” with a back-of-the-throat ch like in Bach or loch, followed by a soft -en.
Kuchen is masculine, so it’s der Kuchen. The plural form is also die Kuchen — no change in spelling. If gender ever trips you up, my gender video lesson can help make it finally click.
Kuchen is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and for good reason: Germans love their cake — and talk about it all the time.
Examples in all four cases:
Nominative:
Der Kuchen ist frisch gebacken.
The cake is freshly baked.
Accusative:
Ich esse den Kuchen mit Sahne.
I’m eating the cake with whipped cream.
Dative:
Wir bringen dem Kuchen zur Feier mit.
We’re bringing the cake to the celebration.
Genitive:
Der Duft des Kuchens ist unglaublich.
The smell of the cake is incredible.
Real-World Tips for Learners
Kuchen refers to what English speakers think of as cake, but also includes pastries, tarts, and sweet loaves. A Kuchen can be a fruit cake (Apfelkuchen), a cheesecake (Käsekuchen), or even a dry cake you’d eat with coffee.
Important: Kuchen is not the same as Torte. A Torte is a multi-layered cake with cream and frosting — often fancier and reserved for special occasions.
Common expressions:
ein Stück Kuchen – a piece of cake
selbstgebackener Kuchen – homemade cake
der Kuchen ist saftig – the cake is moist
Kaffee und Kuchen – coffee and cake (an iconic German tradition)
You’ll hear Kuchen in countless real-life situations — cafés, bakeries, invitations, birthdays, and casual weekends at home.
Beginner dialogue using Kuchen:
A: Was bringst du zur Party mit?
B: Ich backe einen Kuchen!
A: What are you bringing to the party?
B: I’m baking a cake!
Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it aloud using Kuchen.
“Was ist dein Lieblingskuchen – und warum?”
What’s your favorite cake — and why?
Say your answer out loud in German and include Kuchen in the sentence.
German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say cake in German — and how der Kuchen adds flavor to your food vocabulary and real-world conversations.
Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and grow your German, word by word.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Check out Kuh — perfect for learning about animals and rural life.
Or revisit Kühlschrank — ideal for daily conversations and practice with prepositions.