Food vocabulary is the fastest-paying list on the site: you use it every day, several times, and you get instant feedback on whether you got it right.
German also has a few food words with no clean English equivalent — Quark, Schorle, Abendbrot — and one ordering habit that surprises everyone. Ask for ein Wasser in Germany and you'll almost certainly get sparkling.
Meals and the Basics
breakfast
das Frühstück
lunch
das Mittagessen
dinner
das Abendessen
cold evening meal
das Abendbrot
snack
der Snack, die Kleinigkeit
starter
die Vorspeise
main course
das Hauptgericht
dessert
die Nachspeise, der Nachtisch
side dish
die Beilage
dish, meal
das Gericht
menu
die Speisekarte
recipe
das Rezept
ingredients
die Zutaten
tasty
lecker
full (not hungry)
satt
Practice these words
das Frühstück
Quick note: Abendbrot — "evening bread" — is a meal and a habit: bread, cheese, cold cuts and something pickled, eaten cold in the evening. Plenty of German households still eat this way on weekdays, with the hot meal at midday instead.
Meat, Fish and Eggs
meat
das Fleisch
beef
das Rindfleisch
pork
das Schweinefleisch
chicken
das Hähnchen
sausage
die Wurst
ham
der Schinken
bacon
der Speck
mince
das Hackfleisch
meatball, rissole
die Frikadelle
fish
der Fisch
salmon
der Lachs
trout
die Forelle
prawns
die Garnelen
egg
das Ei
vegetarian / vegan
vegetarisch / vegan
Practice these words
das Fleisch
Quick notes:
- Wurst covers sausages and sliced cold cuts. At the deli counter, Wurst usually means what goes on bread.
- Hackfleisch is minced meat, often sold as gemischtes Hack — half pork, half beef.
- Ist da Fleisch drin? ("is there meat in it?") is a useful question. Watch for Speck hiding in vegetable dishes and Gelatine in desserts.
Vegetables and Fruit
potato
die Kartoffel
tomato
die Tomate
cucumber
die Gurke
onion
die Zwiebel
garlic
der Knoblauch
carrot
die Karotte, die Möhre
lettuce, salad
der Salat
mushroom
der Pilz
cabbage
der Kohl
pepper (vegetable)
die Paprika
apple
der Apfel
pear
die Birne
strawberry
die Erdbeere
grape
die Traube
lemon
die Zitrone
Practice these words
die Kartoffel
Quick notes:
- Möhre and Karotte are the same vegetable. Möhre is more common in the north, Karotte in the south — and in Bavaria and Austria you'll also hear Gelbe Rübe.
- Paprika is the vegetable; the spice is Paprikapulver. Black pepper is der Pfeffer.
Dairy and Store Cupboard
milk
die Milch
butter
die Butter
cheese
der Käse
yoghurt
der Joghurt
cream
die Sahne
soft curd cheese
der Quark
flour
das Mehl
sugar
der Zucker
salt
das Salz
pepper
der Pfeffer
oil
das Öl
vinegar
der Essig
pasta
die Nudeln
rice
der Reis
muesli
das Müsli
Practice these words
die Milch
Quick note: Quark is somewhere between yoghurt and cream cheese, it's in every supermarket, and English has no word for it. Germans eat it sweet with fruit, savoury with herbs, and bake with it.
Drinks
water
das Wasser
sparkling water
das Sprudelwasser, der Sprudel
still water
stilles Wasser
tap water
das Leitungswasser
juice
der Saft
juice with sparkling water
die Schorle
coffee
der Kaffee
tea
der Tee
hot chocolate
der Kakao
beer
das Bier
wine
der Wein
sparkling wine
der Sekt
soft drink
die Limo
with ice
mit Eis
without ice
ohne Eis
Practice these words
das Wasser
Quick notes:
- Ein Wasser in a German restaurant means sparkling. If you want still, say ein stilles Wasser. If you want it from the tap, you have to ask for Leitungswasser — and many restaurants won't serve it, or will charge for it.
- Apfelschorle — apple juice with sparkling water — is close to a national drink. Every restaurant, petrol station and vending machine has it.
- Drinks rarely come with ice. If you want it, ask; you'll get two cubes and mild surprise.
Ordering and Eating
I'm hungry.
Ich habe Hunger.
I'm thirsty.
Ich habe Durst.
Enjoy your meal!
Guten Appetit!
It tastes good.
Das schmeckt gut.
I'm full, thanks.
Ich bin satt, danke.
I'm allergic to nuts.
Ich habe eine Nussallergie.
I don't eat meat.
Ich esse kein Fleisch.
Without onions, please.
Ohne Zwiebeln, bitte.
What can you recommend?
Was können Sie empfehlen?
Practice these words
Ich habe Hunger.
Quick note: Guten Appetit is said before every shared meal — at home, in canteens, at restaurants. The answer is danke, gleichfalls.
What to Know About German Eating Habits
The hot meal is at midday. Traditionally, Mittagessen is the warm meal of the day and the evening one is cold. That's changing in cities and among younger people, but it still shapes canteen culture, school schedules and why German restaurants are busy at noon.
Bread is the backbone. Breakfast and dinner are both largely bread-based, which is why the bakery matters so much and why bread gets a lesson of its own.
Portions are honest. German restaurant servings are generous rather than elegant, and asking for leftovers to take away is normal now: Können Sie mir das einpacken?
Three Mistakes to Avoid
Ordering ein Wasser and expecting still. Say stilles Wasser.
Assuming tap water is free and available. It usually isn't served at all.
Using satt for food. Ich bin satt means you're full. A filling meal is sättigend, and a full glass is voll.
Next up: at a restaurant — ordering, complaining, tipping, and the one question every German waiter asks.