“Cod fish” is der Kabeljau in German. Der Dorsch is also used for cod, so both are valid translations.
What does “Kabeljau” mean?
Kabeljau is the straightforward German word for cod. The article is masculine: der Kabeljau. PONS gives its pronunciation as [ˈkaːbl̩jau], with the main stress on the first syllable: PONS pronunciation entry.
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When is cod called “Dorsch”?
Der Dorsch is another correct word for cod. The European Commission lists both Dorsch and Kabeljau as German commercial designations for the species Gadus morhua: European Commission commercial names database.
The Gesellschaft für deutsche Sprache describes a traditional distinction based on the fish’s age: a younger fish is called Dorsch, while an older, spawning-age fish is called Kabeljau. English generally uses “cod” or “codfish” without naming that distinction. It is a usage nuance, not a reason to treat either translation as incorrect: Gesellschaft für deutsche Sprache explanation.
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Plural forms
If you need to say “cods,” the plural forms listed by LEO are die Dorsche for der Dorsch and die Kabeljaus or die Kabeljaue for der Kabeljau: LEO dictionary entry.
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