What does schnitzel mean?
A schnitzel is a thin slice of meat, usually breaded and fried until crisp. It is traditionally made from veal in Central Europe, although pork, chicken, turkey, beef, and other meats are also used. English speakers most often encounter the word in restaurant menus and in the established name Wiener schnitzel, while German speakers use it more broadly for sliced meat, prepared or otherwise. In American usage, “veal schnitzel” and “chicken schnitzel” are especially common. The word’s close association with a golden breadcrumb coating gives it a distinctly culinary and Continental character. Its borrowing from German also preserves an interesting linguistic distinction: schnitzel refers to the cut of meat, while the breading and frying method may vary. Because it names both a specific preparation and, in German, a general sliced cut of meat, schnitzel is best understood as a loanword with a particularly recognizable culinary tradition.
nounA thin, tender cut of meat, usually breaded and fried or sometimes grilled. It is most often made from veal or pork, though chicken and other meats are also used.
- A thin, breaded, fried slice of meat, especially veal, pork, or chicken.
- In German cuisine, any sliced cut of meat, whether breaded or not.
"We shared a breaded veal schnitzel with lemon and a crisp green salad."
"The schnitzel arrived golden and crisp, accompanied by warm potato salad."
"In Berlin, she ordered a larger portion of schnitzel with sauerkraut."
Usually treated as a countable noun, but “schnitzel” is also used collectively and without a plural when referring to the dish in general.
"The kitchen serves several schnitzels with potatoes and greens."
The word schnitzel comes from German and describes a slice of meat cut so thin that its original identity is almost eclipsed by its crisp coating.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does schnitzel come from?
English borrowed schnitzel from German, where it is a diminutive of schnitz, a slice or piece of meat. The German verb schnitzen means “to cut” or “to carve,” and the dish developed within Central European cooking traditions, with breaded fried veal becoming its best-known international form. The English culinary use became established during the 19th century, particularly in connection with German-speaking communities and restaurants.
How schnitzel is actually used
In English, schnitzel usually denotes a breaded and fried cut, most commonly of veal or pork. In German, it has a broader meaning that includes unbreaded meat slices. The loanword is especially common in menus and European-influenced cuisine.
Easily confused with schnitzel
A cutlet is any relatively small slice of meat, whereas a schnitzel is specifically a thin cut that is commonly breaded and fried.