German Phrase
Löse die Hefe in warmem Wasser auf.
Meaning
The sentence tells someone to dissolve the yeast in warm water. It is a typical instruction in baking recipes, especially for breads and pastries that require a yeast starter.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are giving step‑by‑step cooking instructions, either in a written recipe or while speaking to a cooking partner. It works best in informal contexts (du‑form) such as a home kitchen or a cooking class.
✦Grammar Breakdown
LösedieHefeinwarmemWasserauf
Trennbares Verb (auflösen)
‘auflösen’ is a separable verb; in the imperative the prefix ‘auf’ moves to the end of the clause.
Imperativ Singular (du)
‘Löse’ is the du‑imperative form of ‘lösen’, used for informal commands.
Artikel und Kasus
‘die Hefe’ is accusative feminine singular; the article stays ‘die’ because the noun is the direct object.
Dativ vs. Akkusativ with ‘in’
‘in warmem Wasser’ uses the dative because it indicates location (where the yeast is dissolved), not movement into.
Adjektivdeklination (stark)
‘warmem’ is the dative masculine/neuter singular strong ending –em after the preposition ‘in’ without an article.
🗨In Conversation
Löse die Hefe in warmem Wasser auf.
Dissolve the yeast in warm water.
Wie warm soll das Wasser sein?
How warm should the water be?
✕Common Mistakes
Lösen Sie die Hefe in warmem Wasser auf.
In a casual recipe the formal ‘Sie’ is unnecessary; the du‑imperative is the standard.
Löse die Hefe in warmen Wasser auf.
‘Wasser’ is neuter; after ‘in’ with a location meaning it takes dative, so the adjective must be ‘warmem’, not ‘warmen’.
Auf die Hefe löse in warmem Wasser.
When using the separable verb in the imperative, the prefix ‘auf’ must be placed at the end of the clause.
↔Alternatives
Gib die Hefe in warmes Wasser und rühre um.
Put the yeast into warm water and stir.
Mische die Hefe mit warmem Wasser.
Mix the yeast with warm water.
Lass die Hefe in warmem Wasser auflösen.
Let the yeast dissolve in warm water.
Cultural Tip
In German baking, the temperature of the water is crucial: around 30‑35 °C (86‑95 °F) is warm enough to activate the yeast without killing it. Native speakers often say ‘lauwarmes Wasser’ (lukewarm water) to stress that the water should feel just slightly warm to the touch. Also, the du‑imperative is common in recipes, but in a professional kitchen you might hear the formal ‘Sie’ form: ‘Lösen Sie die Hefe …’.