The German word Kraut is a generic term that is often used in compound nouns for cabbage, cabbage products and many herbs:
- Weißkraut = green cabbage
- Blaukraut or Rotkraut = red cabbage
- Sauerkraut
The word is almost never used alone, but the plural form, Kräuter, translates to the English herbs or herbage. For example, Kräutertee is herbal tea.
In former times, Kraut was used as a colloquial expression for tobacco. Today it's sometimes used for marijuana.
In the English language (though not in German), Kraut has, since World War I, come to be used as a derogatory term for a German, possibly based on Sauerkraut, which originated in German cuisine. The term Krautrock is derived from the word in this meaning.
See also