Cake plays a significant role in German baking, and therefore in German culture. Many social gatherings include Kaffee und Kuchen, and those in the run-up to Christmas are no exception. Particularly at this time of year, der Stollen—a dense loaf with raisins, candied fruit, and/or almonds—is widely available in stores. It is also known as Christstollen or Dresdner Stollen, after the city of Dresden, where it originated.

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Wir haben jedes Jahr im Advent Stollen gegessen.

We ate stollen every year during Advent.

Caption 24, Nicos Weg A2 Folge 64: Lieblingsfeste

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But people gather for afternoon coffee and cake all year long, be it in cafés or at home. Depending on the structure of the cake, you might say der Kuchen or die Torte. Both of these words are often seen as compound nouns that describe a specific kind of cake. 

Welchen Kuchen können Sie am besten backen?

Which cake can you bake best?

Caption 27, Nicos Weg A2 Folge 35: Was darf es sein?

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Bin gleich wieder da! -und ein frisch gebackener Apfelkuchen.

I'll be right back! -and a freshly baked apple cake.

Caption 69, Die Pfefferkörner: Endspurt - Part 19

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Ich find, das ist einfach so ein perfekter Blechkuchen.

I think it's simply a perfect tray-baked cake.

Caption 41, Sallys Tortenwelt und Kochwelt: Apfelkuchen mit Marzipan und Mandelsplittern

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Du hast eine Torte und die teilst du in der Mitte durch und dann ist sie geteilt, klar?

You have a cake and you cut it through the middle and then it is divided, [is that] clear?

Captions 58-59, Otto Waalkes: Die verflixte Rechenaufgabe

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Some cakes involve die Streusel, which is a crumble topping. Others involve glazes or icing: 

Und jetzt mach ich hier noch einen kleinen Guss drüber.

And now I'll make a small glaze over it here.

Caption 5, Sallys Tortenwelt und Kochwelt: Apfelkuchen mit Marzipan und Mandelsplittern

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Während diese abkühlen, bereite ich schon einmal die Glasur vor.

While they cool down, I'm going to prepare the icing.

Captions 46-47, Weihnachtsplätzchen backen: mit Paula

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Further Learning
Learn more about the difference between der Kuchen and die Torte by searching the internet for images, or look up examples on Yabla German. 

The German word während means "during" or "while." If you have learned this word, you likely also learned that it is a preposition used with the genitive case. In fact, this is not always the case. But there are two common structures for the implementation of this word, so let's look at some examples.

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The genitive case is required when während is used with a noun that expresses a period of time. 

Und wie ist das passiert? Während des Trainings?

And how did it happen? During the training?

Caption 33, Jenny und Alena - Handball

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Während der vierzigtägigen Fastenzeit

During the forty day fasting period,

durften sie nur eingeschränkt essen.

hey were only allowed to eat limited amounts.

Caption 18, Deutsches Bier - 500 Jahre Reinheitsgebot

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However, there are instances where it is correct to use the dative (See the link provided in "Further Learning"). Moreover, it is not uncommon to also hear the dative case used with während in colloquial spoken German. The dative case may be used with nominalized verbs, for example: 

Und jetzt geb ich während dem [Umgangssprache] Rühren nach und nach die Eier mit dazu.

And now I'll gradually add the eggs while stirring.

Caption 14, Sallys Tortenwelt und Kochwelt - Apfelkuchen mit Marzipan und Mandelsplittern

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Während is also implemented as a subordinating conjunction that connects a subordinate clause to a main clause. In this case, remember that the conjugated verb will be at the end of the subordinate clause.

„Während ich weg bin, musst du das Haus fegen,

"While I am away, you must sweep the house,

Feuerholz hacken und den Kessel mit Wasser füllen!“

cut firewood and fill the kettle with water!"

Captions 22-23, Märchen - Sagenhaft - Der Zauberlehrling

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So, während ich die Tafel putze,

So while I clean the blackboard,

überlegt euch mal Verben mit Präpositionen.

think about verbs with prepositions.

Caption 5, Deutschkurs in Blaubeuren - Relativsätze mit Präpositionen

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Danach sterben sie,

Afterwards they die,

während überall sonst endgültig der Bergfrühling einzieht.

while everywhere else the mountain spring finally moves in for good.

Caption 14, Alpenseen - Kühle Schönheiten

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Further Learning
To learn about instances in which the dative is used rather than the genitive, refer to the "Usage Notes" at the bottom of this page. You can review the declensions for the genitive and dative cases here. Then write your own sentences with the word während, or search for more examples on Yabla German.