Short answer: in German, Quark is a soft fresh cheese. It is said roughly like “kvark”, with the “Qu” sounding like “kv”. The German word also has a casual meaning: nonsense or something worthless.
How to say it
- In German: about “kvark”. The Q and U together sound like “kv”.
- In English (physics): people say “kwork” or “kwark”. Both are common, and the physicist who named the particle said “kwork”.
Meaning 1: the cheese
German Quark is a creamy, mild fresh cheese made from soured milk. In Germany it is sold in different fat levels, which are measured as fat in the dry matter:
- Magerquark: low-fat quark, under 10 percent fat in dry matter.
- Speisequark: table quark. In shops you often see versions with 20 percent fat and with 40 percent fat in dry matter.
- Sahnequark: a richer, creamier kind made with cream.
A classic simple meal is Pellkartoffeln mit Quark: jacket potatoes with quark, often mixed with chives. Read more in what is quark cheese.
Other names for the same cheese
- Topfen: the word in Austria and parts of Bavaria. Austrian Topfen is often drier than German quark, so cooks may drain quark a little when a recipe asks for Topfen.
- Weißkäse: a regional name in parts of eastern Germany.
Meaning 2: “nonsense”
People also use Quark to mean silly talk or something worthless. This slang meaning is listed in German dictionaries, and it is informal, not rude. Common phrases include:
- “Das ist doch Quark!” – “That is nonsense!”
- “Quark reden” – to talk nonsense.
Even German food writers say they are not sure how the cheese became a word for nonsense.
Food words with Quark
- Käsekuchen: German cheesecake, traditionally made with quark.
- Quarktasche: a pastry filled with sweet quark.
- Quarkspeise: a quark dessert.
Where does the word come from?
It is linked to words in Slavic languages with a similar meaning, related to curds. It entered German a long time ago. The physics use came much later, in the 1960s. See our article on quark meaning and origin.
Quick FAQ
Is quark the German word for cheese?
No. Quark is one specific fresh cheese. The general German word for cheese is Käse.
Is the particle named after the cheese?
Not directly. The physicist who named it said he took the word from a line in a novel. Some people think the German word played a part, but that is only a story.
More: define quark and all the meanings of quark. Back to the home page