Understand that 'kraut' implies a specific cultural dish associated with Germany and German cuisine.

Cultural Dish

'Kraut' is used more in casual conversations rather than formal dining or culinary discussions.

Casual Language

In the US, 'kraut' is commonly mentioned as a topping for hot dogs or sandwiches.

Know that using 'kraut' to refer to Germans can be offensive due to its historical wartime derogatory usage.

'Kraut' as a term for Germans should generally be avoided in current conversation as it's considered disrespectful.

When studying history or literature, understanding that 'kraut' was a wartime term helps comprehend the sentiment of the era.