trocken Brot

German edit

Etymology edit

From trocken (“dry”) +‎ Brot (“bread”). In older German strong neuter adjectives could be left uninflected. This is now generally poetic, but still common in a few fixed expressions. Compare fließend Wasser.

Pronunciation edit

IPA^(key): /ˌtʁɔkən ˈbʁoːt/

Noun edit

trocken Brot n (invariable)

bread with nothing on it, particularly without butter or margarine
Die Gefangenen bekamen nur Wasser und trocken Brot.
The captives were given only water and bread.

Usage notes edit

Distinguish trocken Brot in the above sense from trockenes Brot (“dry/stale bread”).