Vocapedia
Log inTry for Free
Log in

Looking up...

Words

  • Words of the Year
  • Recent Lookups
  • My Dictionary

Languages

  • English
  • Vietnamese
  • Japanese
  • Chinese
  • Spanish
  • French
  • Korean
  • German

Features

  • Words of the Year
  • My Collections List
  • Reviews
  • Learning Resources
  • Community Collections

Learn

  • How It Works
  • Study Guides
  • Language Tips
  • FAQ
  • Getting Started
  • For Individuals
  • For Teachers

Community

  • Forum
  • Blog
  • Help Center
  • Partnerships

About

  • About Vocapedia
  • Contact Us
  • Feedback

Legal

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Accessibility
  • GDPR Compliance
© 2026 Vocapedia. All rights reserved.

ein guter Koch macht einen guten Brei

/aɪn ˈɡuːtɐ ˈkɔx maxt aɪnən ˈɡuːtn̩ bʁaɪ/
proverb★Intermediate— good results come from good preparation◆proverb
◆ What It Really Means
Quality results come from quality effort and preparation.
¶ Literal Meaning
A skilled cook makes good porridge.
Literal Breakdown
ein guter Kocha good cook+machtmakes+einen guten Breigood porridge
◇ Mental Image
The image of a cook preparing porridge symbolizes the process of turning simple ingredients into something valuable through skill and effort.
◈ When to Use
A teacher might say this to students before an important exam to encourage them to study well, or a manager might use it to motivate a team to put in extra effort for a project.
◉ Cultural Note
This proverb reflects the German cultural emphasis on craftsmanship, attention to detail, and the belief that quality work requires quality effort.
informal

This proverb emphasizes that quality outcomes depend on quality inputs and effort. It suggests that success in any endeavor requires careful preparation and skill.

Wenn du dich gut auf die Prüfung vorbereitest, wirst du gute Noten bekommen.

If you prepare well for the exam, you'll get good grades.

Ein guter Koch macht einen guten Brei – deshalb kaufen wir nur frische Zutaten.

A good cook makes good porridge – that's why we only buy fresh ingredients.

💡

This proverb is often used to encourage thorough preparation and attention to detail in any task.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

Was du säst, wirst du erntenproverb
You reap what you sow
Gute Vorbereitung ist die halbe Mieteproverb
Good preparation is half the battle

💡Pro Tip

Cultural Context

This proverb reflects the German cultural value of thoroughness and attention to detail in work and daily life.

⚡Gold Rule

Usage Rule

This proverb is versatile and can be applied to any situation where effort and preparation lead to success.

📖Word Origin

This proverb originates from German culinary traditions, where the quality of porridge (Brei) was directly tied to the skill of the cook.

📝Usage Notes

This proverb is commonly used in both literal and figurative contexts to emphasize the importance of quality inputs and effort in achieving good results.

Word Breakdown

ein guter Koch
a skilled cook
phrase
+
macht
makes
verb
+
einen guten Brei
good porridge
phrase
Deutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch

Learning Progress

Track your learning journey!

• Save words to build your vocabulary

• Monitor your daily streak

• Get personalized review reminders

• See words learned statistics

Log in to access advanced features and track your progress!

Go to Dashboard →

Recent Lookups

The most recent words being looked up. Stay up to date with what language learners are exploring.