Christmas market glossary

Updated 24 October 2026

Glühwein is mulled wine, Pfand is a returnable deposit and Weihnachtsmarkt means Christmas market. This glossary explains the food, drink and seasonal words you may meet at the stalls. Use the linked destination guide for the particular market: a traditional dish or regional term is not a promise that every stall will sell it.

All respellings are deliberately rough English-speaking aids, not phonetic transcriptions or native audio. English lacks several German, Czech, Polish, Hungarian and Danish sounds.

Words at the market, A–Z

Advent · German

The period leading up to Christmas.

Rough English pronunciation: AHD-vent.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Adventmarkt · German (Austrian usage)

Austrian form of Adventsmarkt: an Advent market.

Rough English pronunciation: AHD-vent-markt.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Adventsmarkt · German

A market held during Advent.

Rough English pronunciation: AHD-vents-markt.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Becher · German

A drinking cup; often the reusable cup used for market drinks.

Rough English pronunciation: BEKH-er.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Bosna · Austrian German

A spiced sausage sandwich associated with Salzburg.

Rough English pronunciation: BOZ-nah.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Bratwurst · German

A sausage intended for frying or grilling.

Rough English pronunciation: BRAHT-voorst.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Bredele · Alsatian

Small Christmas biscuits; spellings also include bredala.

Rough English pronunciation: BREH-deh-leh.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Brezel · German

A pretzel; commonly a twisted savoury bread snack.

Rough English pronunciation: BRAY-tsel.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Christkindl · German (diminutive)

The Christ Child; a diminutive related to Christkind, the Christmas gift-bringer in some traditions.

Rough English pronunciation: KRIST-kindl.

Tourism source supports Christkind; diminutive morphology is general language knowledge, not a claim about a named city character.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Christkindlmarkt · German

A name for a Christmas market, particularly familiar in southern German-speaking areas.

Rough English pronunciation: KRIST-kindl-markt.

Avoid claiming this spelling is used by every Austrian market.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Christstollen · German

Stollen eaten at Christmas: a rich fruit loaf.

Rough English pronunciation: KRIST-shtol-en.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Dampfnudeln · German

Steamed yeast dumplings, often served sweet.

Rough English pronunciation: DAHMPF-noo-deln.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Drei im Weggla · Franconian German

Three small Nuremberg sausages in a bread roll.

Rough English pronunciation: dry im VEG-la.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Feuerzangenbowle · German

Hot wine punch with rum-soaked sugar set alight above it.

Rough English pronunciation: FOY-er-tsang-en-boh-leh.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Flammkuchen · German

Thin baked flatbread traditionally topped with cream, onions and bacon; toppings vary.

Rough English pronunciation: FLAHM-koo-khen.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Gebrannte Mandeln · German

Sugar-roasted almonds.

Rough English pronunciation: geh-BRAHN-teh MAHN-deln.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Gløgg · Danish (also used in other Scandinavian languages)

Spiced mulled wine.

Rough English pronunciation: gluhg.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Glühwein · German

Wine heated with spices.

Rough English pronunciation: GLOO-vine.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

God jul · Danish

Merry Christmas.

Rough English pronunciation: gohd yool.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Julemanden · Danish

Father Christmas; literally the Christmas man.

Rough English pronunciation: YOO-leh-man-en.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Kaiserschmarrn · German / Austrian culinary usage

A sweet shredded pancake dish.

Rough English pronunciation: KY-zer-shmarn.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Kinderpunsch · German

Non-alcoholic punch, often served hot.

Rough English pronunciation: KIN-der-poonsh.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Krampus · German / Alpine folklore

A horned folklore figure accompanying St Nicholas in some Alpine traditions.

Rough English pronunciation: KRAHM-poos.

Traditions and dates vary by place; not a character appearing at every market.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Kürtőskalács · Hungarian

Chimney cake: a sweet dough spiral baked around a spit.

Rough English pronunciation: KOOR-toosh-kah-lahch.

National tourism statement surfaced via official account search. Avoid reducing its Székely/Transylvanian heritage to an invention in Budapest.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Leberkässemmel · German (southern usage)

A bread roll containing a slice of baked meatloaf-style Leberkäse.

Rough English pronunciation: LAY-ber-kays-ZEM-el.

Recipe varies; name does not guarantee liver or cheese in the loaf.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Lebkuchen · German

Spiced gingerbread-style biscuits or cakes.

Rough English pronunciation: LAYB-koo-khen.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Lángos · Hungarian

Deep-fried flatbread, often served with savoury toppings.

Rough English pronunciation: LAHN-gosh.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Marone · German

An edible sweet chestnut; market signs often use plural Maronen.

Rough English pronunciation: mah-ROH-neh.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Maultaschen · German

Filled pasta pockets associated with Swabian cooking.

Rough English pronunciation: MOWL-tash-en.

Existing Vienna guide link provides onward context, not a claim Maultaschen originated in Vienna. Prefer new Stuttgart guide once live.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Medovina · Czech

Mead, an alcoholic honey drink.

Rough English pronunciation: meh-doh-VEE-nah.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Met · German

Mead: an alcoholic drink made from fermented honey.

Rough English pronunciation: met.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Nisse · Danish

An elf-like figure in Danish Christmas traditions.

Rough English pronunciation: NISS-eh.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Nürnberger Rostbratwurst · German

A small grilled sausage associated with Nuremberg.

Rough English pronunciation: NOORN-ber-ger ROHST-braht-voorst.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Obwarzanek · Polish

A twisted bread ring, boiled briefly before baking; obwarzanek krakowski is the Kraków speciality.

Rough English pronunciation: ob-vah-ZHAH-nek.

A bread ring, not simply an interchangeable word for bagel.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Oscypek · Polish

A traditional smoked sheep’s-milk cheese from the Polish highlands; not every grilled cheese sold at a market is authentic oscypek.

Rough English pronunciation: os-TSIH-pek.

Protected-name requirements matter; do not label all mixed-milk grill cheeses oscypek.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Pain d’épices · French

Spiced cake or gingerbread.

Rough English pronunciation: pan day-PEESS.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Pfand · German

A refundable deposit; at markets this often means the extra amount paid for a reusable cup.

Rough English pronunciation: pfahnt.

Return conditions depend on the stall; do not promise every cup can be returned anywhere.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Pfandbecher · German

A drinking cup supplied against a deposit.

Rough English pronunciation: PFAHNT-bekh-er.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Raclette · French / Swiss culinary usage

A cheese and a dish in which melted cheese is served with accompaniments.

Rough English pronunciation: rah-KLET.

Link to an existing guide offering it; do not claim it originated in Alsace.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Reibekuchen · German

Fried pancakes made from grated potatoes.

Rough English pronunciation: RYE-beh-koo-khen.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Risalamande · Danish

Rice pudding dessert served with cherry sauce, traditionally containing a hidden whole almond.

Rough English pronunciation: ree-sah-lah-MAHN.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Sankt Nikolaus · German

Saint Nicholas, traditionally associated with gifts around 6 December.

Rough English pronunciation: zahngkt NEE-koh-lows.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Stollen · German

A rich, loaf-shaped cake, typically with dried fruit.

Rough English pronunciation: SHTOL-en.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Svařák · Czech

An informal Czech name for mulled wine.

Rough English pronunciation: SVAH-zhahk.

ř has no exact English equivalent; approximation deliberately simplified.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Trdelník · Czech

A sweet dough spiral baked around a spit, commonly sold as chimney cake.

Rough English pronunciation: TUR-del-neek.

Popular in Czechia does not establish Czech origin; avoid calling it an ancient Prague invention.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Vin chaud · French

Mulled wine; literally hot wine.

Rough English pronunciation: van shoh.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Weihnachten · German

Christmas.

Rough English pronunciation: VY-nakh-ten.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Weihnachtsmarkt · German

Christmas market.

Rough English pronunciation: VY-nakhts-markt.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Zimt · German

Cinnamon.

Rough English pronunciation: tsimt.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Æbleskiver · Danish

Small round pancake-like cakes traditionally eaten at Christmas.

Rough English pronunciation: EH-bleh-skee-ver.

The name contains apple, but modern versions need not contain apple.

Read the destination guide · Dictionary or tourism reference · checked 24 October 2026

Reading a menu with dietary needs

Use the written name to begin a conversation with the trader, then describe the ingredient or preparation that matters to you. A translated dish name is not an allergen list. Ask about the actual serving and the information available at that stall rather than relying on a general description elsewhere. If you cannot establish that a dish suits your needs, choose an option whose ingredients and preparation you can discuss clearly. The glossary explains words; the trader supplies the details of the food being served.

Using the words when you order

A name tells you what to ask about, rather than every ingredient in the stall’s version. Read the menu and ask the trader about the dish being served. This is especially useful when the same word covers regional recipes or when an English translation is shorter than the original description. A familiar name does not settle allergens, alcohol content or the way a particular portion is prepared.

Use the rough pronunciations as a starting point and show the written word if that is easier. They use English spelling to suggest unfamiliar sounds, so they cannot reproduce every vowel or consonant. The dictionary and tourism links give the spelling and meaning used for each entry; the destination guides add the local context for the trip.

Read the mulled wine and Glühwein guide · Plan a first Christmas market visit

Questions before you go