saure

Saure is the German adjective meaning sour or acidic. It describes taste, sensory perception, and chemical properties related to acidity. In everyday language, it is used for foods and drinks with a tart or sharp taste, such as lemons, vinegar, pickles, or sour candies. In science, the term often appears in compound phrases describing chemical acidity or solutions.

Etymology and related terms: Saure derives from the Old High German word sauwar or sauer, related to the Proto-Germanic root for sourness. The noun Säure (acid) is closely connected and is used in chemistry to name acidic substances. The adjective saure can describe both taste and chemical character when paired with a noun.

Usage and grammar: As an attributive adjective, saure inflects according to gender, number, and article. Examples include: eine saure Zitrone (feminine singular), die sauren Zitronen (feminine plural), ein saurer Saft (masculine singular), die sauren Säfte (masculine plural). In predicative position, the form typically appears as sauer (Die Zitrone schmeckt sauer).

In chemistry and nutrition, saure describes acidity in foods, drinks, and solutions, such as saure Lösungen (acidic solutions) or saurer Zitronensaft (acidic lemon juice). The term is common in labeling, cooking, and educational contexts to express acidic or sour characteristics without specifying the exact chemical species.

See also Säure, pH, taste, sourness.