muesli

muesli — noun

1. a breakfast food from Switzerland that contains raw oats, nuts, and pieces of dr

1.nounB1
Definition

a breakfast food from Switzerland that contains raw oats, nuts, and pieces of dried fruit, usually served with milk

Example

Aiko eats muesli with cold milk and fresh berries every morning.

collocation: muesli + milk / muesli + berries

The hotel breakfast buffet offered fresh fruit and homemade muesli.

collocation: homemade muesli

Common collocations
  • eat muesli
  • make muesli
  • buy muesli
  • Swiss muesli
  • homemade muesli
  • bowl of muesli
  • bag of muesli
  • muesli with milk
  • muesli with yogurt
Synonyms
  • granola

    Granola is baked with oil and sweeteners for a crunchy texture; muesli is raw and usually unsweetened.

  • cereal

    A broad term for any grain-based breakfast food; muesli is a specific type within that category.

  • Bircher muesli

    A version of muesli soaked overnight in milk or yogurt, named after the Swiss doctor who created the original recipe.

Usage Note

Unlike porridge or oatmeal, muesli is eaten without cooking — the oats are raw and soften only when milk or yogurt is added.

Common Mistakes

I ate a bowl of granola with milk for breakfast' (when describing a raw, untoasted mix).
I ate a bowl of muesli with milk for breakfast.
Granola is baked with oil and sweetener, while muesli is raw and typically unsweetened.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Muesli, granola, and porridge are all grain-based breakfast foods, but they differ in preparation. Muesli is raw oats, nuts, and dried fruit served cold with milk or yogurt — no cooking required. Granola is similar in ingredients but baked with oil and a sweetener (honey or sugar) to give it a crunchy, clumpy texture. Porridge (or oatmeal) is cooked oats served hot. 'Cereal' is the broadest term, covering everything from cornflakes to muesli to granola. Bircher muesli refers specifically to the original Swiss recipe, where the oats are soaked overnight. If you want a grab-and-go breakfast with no preparation, choose muesli. If you prefer a sweet crunch, choose granola. On a cold morning, porridge is the warmer option.

granolacereal ↗porridge ↗Bircher muesli

Common collocations

Nouns

  • bowl of ~
  • bag of ~
  • packet of ~
  • brand of ~

Phrases

  • eat ~ for breakfast
  • serve ~ with fruit
  • make ~ from scratch

Prepositions

  • with milk
  • with yogurt
  • for breakfast

Etymology

Swiss GermanGermanEnglish

Borrowed from Swiss German Müesli, a diminutive of Muos meaning 'mush' or 'puree'. The dish was invented around 1900 by Swiss physician Maximilian Bircher-Benner for patients at his sanatorium. It entered English usage in the early twentieth century.