German Phrase
Rühr das Öl langsam in den Essig ein.
Meaning
The sentence is a cooking instruction: ‘Stir the oil slowly into the vinegar.’ It tells the listener to combine the two liquids gradually, which is the classic way to make a vinaigrette.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are giving step‑by‑step directions in a kitchen, reading a German recipe, or teaching someone how to emulsify oil and vinegar.
✦Grammar Breakdown
RührdasÖllangsamindenEssigein.
Imperative (du)
‘Rühr’ is the singular informal imperative of ‘rühren’; the ending –e is dropped in everyday speech.
Accusative object
‘das Öl’ is a neuter noun in the accusative case, marked by the article ‘das’.
Adverb placement
‘langsam’ (slowly) normally follows the object it modifies.
Preposition + Accusative
‘in den Essig’ uses ‘in’ with the accusative because the movement is into the vinegar.
Separable prefix
‘ein’ is the separable prefix of ‘einrühren’; in main clauses it moves to the sentence end.
🗨In Conversation
Rühr das Öl langsam in den Essig ein.
Stir the oil slowly into the vinegar.
Okay, ich mache das gleich.
Okay, I’ll do that right away.
✕Common Mistakes
Rühre das Öl langsam in den Essig ein.
The extra ‘e’ after ‘Rühr’ is unnecessary in informal singular imperative; native speakers drop it.
Rühr das Öl langsam in den Essig.
Leaving out the separable prefix ‘ein’ changes the meaning to ‘stir the oil into the vinegar’ without the nuance of ‘mix it in completely’.
Rühr das Öl langsam zum Essig ein.
‘zum’ (zu + dem) would imply direction toward, not ‘into’; the correct preposition for mixing into a liquid is ‘in’.
↔Alternatives
Gib das Öl langsam zum Essig und rühre es ein.
Add the oil slowly to the vinegar and stir it in.
Vermische das Öl behutsam mit dem Essig.
Mix the oil gently with the vinegar.
Rühre das Öl vorsichtig in den Essig ein.
Stir the oil carefully into the vinegar.
Cultural Tip
In German cuisine, a simple vinaigrette (Essig‑Öl‑Mischung) is a staple for salads and roasted vegetables. The verb ‘einrühren’ is frequently used in recipes to describe the act of emulsifying oil into an acidic base. Remember that German recipes often list ingredients in the order they are added, so the phrase signals the crucial moment when the oil is incorporated.