Vermischte

Vermischte is a German term with two principal uses, depending on context and function in the sentence. Primarily, it is the simple past tense form of the verb vermischen, meaning “to mix together.” In this sense it is a finite verb form: Ich vermischte die Zutaten gründlich; Er vermischte verschiedene Farben.

Second, vermischte can appear as an attributive form of the past participle vermischt when used as an adjective. In this function it describes things that have been combined or blended. For example, die vermischte Zutat (the mixed ingredient) or die vermischten Zutaten (the mixed ingredients). In everyday German, the more neutral adjective for “mixed” is often gemischt, but vermischt is also common, especially when emphasis on the act of mixing remains in focus.

Etymology and meaning: vermischen is formed from ver- (a prefix with various intensifications or scope) and mischen (to mix). Vermischte thus inherits the sense of “having been mixed” or “having been blended,” whether referring to physical mixing (liquids, colors, ingredients) or metaphorical blending (genres, ideas).

Usage notes: Vermischte is most likely to appear as the simple past tense of vermischen in narrative or instructional prose. As an adjective, its use is correct but stylistically it can be superseded by gemischt in many contexts. The term is widely understood in cooking, chemistry, textiles, and figurative language.

See also: vermischen, Mischung, mischen.