Meaning
To make someone desire something, especially food, very much.
Cultural Background
Germans often use this phrase during 'Kaffee und Kuchen' (coffee and cake time) on Sunday afternoons. It's a social ritual where visual presentation of the cake is key. In Vienna, coffee house culture is huge. The phrase is frequently used in reviews of traditional pastries like Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel. Often used in the context of Swiss chocolate or cheese fondue. It highlights the high quality and 'Genuss' factor of Swiss products. German marketing experts use this idiom to describe 'Appetite Appeal' in food photography. It's a technical term for making food look irresistible.
Use it for non-food!
To sound like a native, use this for travel, new gadgets, or exciting plans. It shows you understand the figurative depth of the language.
Dative Alert
Always remember: MIR, DIR, IHM, IHR, UNS, EUCH, IHNEN. Never use 'mich' or 'dich'!
Meaning
To make someone desire something, especially food, very much.
Use it for non-food!
To sound like a native, use this for travel, new gadgets, or exciting plans. It shows you understand the figurative depth of the language.
Dative Alert
Always remember: MIR, DIR, IHM, IHR, UNS, EUCH, IHNEN. Never use 'mich' or 'dich'!
The 'Hör auf!' Response
When someone is describing food and you're hungry, it's very common to jokingly say 'Hör auf! Du machst mir den Mund wässrig!'
Test Yourself
Fülle die Lücke mit der richtigen Form von 'jemandem' (Dativ).
Die Schokolade macht ___ (ich) den Mund wässrig.
In this idiom, the person affected is always in the dative case. 'Mir' is the dative of 'ich'.
Welcher Satz ist grammatikalisch korrekt?
Wähle die richtige Option:
'Wässrig' needs the Umlaut, 'mir' is dative, and 'den Mund' is masculine accusative.
Vervollständige den Dialog.
A: Schau dir dieses Steak an! B: Hör auf, ___!
This is the standard idiomatic response to a tempting description.
In welcher Situation passt dieser Satz am besten?
Satz: 'Der Reisekatalog macht mir den Mund wässrig.'
The idiom is used for non-food items like travel to show desire and anticipation.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Where you'll hear it
Media
- • Cooking shows
- • Ads
- • Reviews
Social
- • Dinner parties
- • Travel stories
- • Dating
Business
- • Sales pitches
- • Product launches
- • Copywriting
Practice Bank
4 exercisesDie Schokolade macht ___ (ich) den Mund wässrig.
In this idiom, the person affected is always in the dative case. 'Mir' is the dative of 'ich'.
Wähle die richtige Option:
'Wässrig' needs the Umlaut, 'mir' is dative, and 'den Mund' is masculine accusative.
A: Schau dir dieses Steak an! B: Hör auf, ___!
This is the standard idiomatic response to a tempting description.
Satz: 'Der Reisekatalog macht mir den Mund wässrig.'
The idiom is used for non-food items like travel to show desire and anticipation.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsNo, it is exclusively for things that are desirable or tempting.
Both are technically correct, but 'wässrig' is much more common in modern German.
It is neutral. You can use it with friends, but also in a professional marketing meeting.
'Appetit machen' is more general. 'Den Mund wässrig machen' is more vivid and sensory.
It's grammatically okay, but not idiomatic. Use 'Mir wird der Mund wässrig' instead.
Yes, it is standard in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
It's rare and can sound a bit objectifying or weird. Stick to food and experiences.
Only metaphorically (saliva). You don't use it for actual water.
Use 'hat ... gemacht'. Example: 'Das hat mir den Mund wässrig gemacht.'
Not really, but you can just say 'Mundwässernd' as an adjective in some contexts, though it's rare.
Yes! It's very common to say a trailer makes you 'wässrig' for the movie.
There isn't a direct idiomatic opposite, but 'den Appetit verderben' (to spoil the appetite) works.
Related Phrases
Appetit machen
synonymTo whet the appetite
Das Wasser läuft mir im Mund zusammen
similarMy mouth is watering
Schmackhaft machen
similarTo make something palatable/attractive
Jemandem die Nase lang machen
contrastTo tease someone
Lust wecken
builds onTo awaken desire
