In Southern and Appalachian speech, kraut means homemade sauerkraut - cabbage that’s been salted, packed, and left to ferment in a crock or jar. For generations, makin’ kraut was a late-fall tradition when gardens gave their last big heads of cabbage.
synonyms: fermented cabbage, pickled cabbage, home kraut, sauerkraut
Hillbilly Dude Says...
'Kraut' cooked with chopped up hot dogs in it was a common dish growin' up - and we still eat it around here.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
'Kraut' cooked with chopped up hot dogs in it was a common dish growin' up - and we still eat it around here.
Pronunciation
[KROWT]
/kraʊt/
Meaning & Usage
- Homemade sauerkraut (noun)
Kitchen talk
Ruby:
Don’t open that lid too soon - the kraut ain’t done workin’ yet.
Ethel:
I can smell it from the porch. Smells just right.
- Cabbage dish cooked or served with other foods (noun)
Table talk
Calvin:
We’re havin’ beans, cornbread, and kraut tonight.
Lorene:
Save me a bowl of that - I’ll bring the wieners.
★ If someone says the kraut’s workin’, that means it’s bubbling and fermenting just right. A little tang in the air’s a good sign - that’s the magic happenin’. ★
Origin and Etymology
The word kraut came from German and Swiss settlers whose fermentation traditions took root in the Southern mountains. By the 1800s, "kraut" had replaced "sauerkraut" in local speech, and every family had its own recipe for salting and packing cabbage. Making kraut became part of Appalachian fall life - a blend of thrift, taste, and togetherness that still lingers today.
Usage Notes
In the South and Appalachia, "kraut" nearly always refers to homemade batches, not store-bought jars.
Put up kraut - prepare and pack cabbage for fermenting.
Fried kraut - kraut sautéed with onions or potatoes.
Kraut and wieners - simple supper dish.
Kraut juice - the tangy brine left from a finished crock.
Outside the region, people may still say "sauerkraut," but "kraut" by itself remains a proud mountain shorthand. These days, folks may use store-bought kraut just as easily as homemade, but the word still carries that old-country feel. Around here, "kraut" means sauerkraut of any kind - though homemade’s still best.
Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...
'Kraut' cooked with chopped up hot dogs in it was a common dish growin' up - and we still eat it around here. 
