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Culinary fanatics make for some of the best language learners because culture is most easily shared over the dinner table with local cuisine. Food in German culture is the result of thousands of years of agriculture and cultural mixing over dinners just like yours. Learn about common terms used around the table for German food and what dinner means to a German.
Etiquette for your invitation to a German dinner table
In Germany, being invited to someone’s dinner table is a gesture of trust and a desire to connect socially. These meals may be casual in tone, but there is an undeniable sense of formality in how to mind your manners and how to order food in German when out at a restaurant. Bringing a small gift like a bottle of sparkling cider or wine and following the same table manners you would in America goes a long way.
Just be sure to show up on time! Punctuality is a critically important value in German social circles. Remember the German idiom: Fünf Minuten vor der Zeit ist die deutsche Pünktlichkeit or “Five minutes before the time is the German punctuality.”
What Germans call common condiments and seasonings
Some German stereotypes are true: Germans love their condiments! Specifically, Senf (mustard) is a favorite in German homes, with the first Senf factory being built in 1726. See what other condiments your dinner guests might expect to see at your table.
| German | English |
| der Balsamico | balsamic vinegar |
| die Basilikumblätter | basil leaves |
| das Currypulver | curry powder |
| das Guacamole | guacamole |
| der Honig | honey |
| das Salz | salt |
| der Ketchup | ketchup |
| der Knoblauch | garlic |
| der Meerrettich | horseradish |
| die Minze | mint |
| die Muskatnuss | nutmeg |
| die Paprika | paprika |
| die Petersilie | parsley |
| der Pfeffer | pepper |
| der Senf | mustard |
| die Sojasauce | soy sauce |
| die Vanille | vanilla |
| die Worcestersauce | Worcestershire sauce |
| die Zimtstange | cinnamon stick |
| die Zwiebelpulver | onion powder |
Since you’re likely to use these terms as objects in a sentence (rather than subjects), keep in mind that German articles can change based on the role their noun is playing in a sentence.
Consider reviewing how this works as you look at how der Ketchup changes articles as we switch it from a subject to a direct object, and finally to an indirect object. (Review the German cases if you need a deeper dive.)
- Der Ketchup schmeckt heute besonders süß. = The ketchup tastes especially sweet today.
- Würden Sie mir bitte den Ketchup reichen? = Would you please pass the ketchup?
- Ich gebe dem Ketchup einen Schuss Chili dazu. = I’m adding a splash of chili (powder) to the ketchup.
Everyday vegetables in German
Familiarize yourself with the most common staple vegetables in German homes so you can better describe your sides to dinner guests. Find this German food vocabulary in the table below:
| German | English |
| die Aubergine | eggplant |
| die Avocado | avocado |
| die Bohne | bean |
| der Brokkoli | broccoli |
| die Erbse | pea |
| der Grünkohl | kale |
| der Gurke | cucumber |
| die Karotte | carrot |
| der Kartoffel | potato |
| der Knoblauch | garlic |
| der Kohl | cabbage |
| die Linse | lentil |
| der Mais | corn |
| die Paprika | bell pepper |
| der Radieschen | radish |
| der Rosenkohl | brussel sprouts |
| der Ruccola | arugula |
| der Salat | lettuce |
| die Schalotte | shallot |
| der Sellerie | celery |
| der Spargel | asparagus |
| der Spinat | spinach |
| die Süßkartoffel | Sweet potato |
| die Tomate | tomato |
| die Zucchini | zucchini |
German’s favorite meats and what to call them
While most Germans enjoy a good Bratwurst (sausage), there are plenty of other savory meats that call the German dinner table home. Find out what to call your favorite carnivore dish in German.
| German | English |
| das Brathähnchen | roasted chicken |
| das Dönerfleisch | döner meat |
| das Entenfleisch | duck meat |
| das Filet | fillet |
| das Geflügel | poultry |
| das Gehackte | ground meat |
| das Hammelfleisch | mutton |
| das Hasenfleisch | rabbit meat |
| das Hirschfleisch | venison |
| das Kalbfleisch | veal |
| das Kasseler | smoked pork chop |
| das Lammfleisch | lamb |
| die Leber | liver |
| das Mett | raw minced pork |
| das Putenfleisch | turkey |
| das Rauchfleisch | smoked meat |
| das Rindfleisch | beef |
| der Rostbraten | roast beef |
| das Salami | salami |
| der Schinken | ham |
| das Schweinebauch | pork belly |
| die Speck | bacon |
| die Weißwurst | white sausage |
| die Wiener | vienna sausage |
| das Wildfleisch | game meat |
Names for fruits at the German dinner table
Find the sweeter side of German meals with the German names for popular fruits that add sweetness to life. If you look closely, you’ll see that many of them are spelled (and pronounced) similarly to English. That shows how closely German and English are related as Germanic languages.
| German | English |
| die Ananas | pineapple |
| der Apfel | apple |
| die Aprikose | apricot |
| die Banane | banana |
| die Birne | pear |
| die Blaubeere | blueberry |
| die Brombeere | blackberry |
| die Clementine | clementine |
| die Cranberry | cranberry |
| die Erdbeere | strawberry |
| die Himbeere | raspberry |
| die Kirsche | cherry |
| die Kiwi | kiwi |
| die Limette | lime |
| die Mango | mango |
| die Melone | melon |
| die Orange | orange |
| die Pfirsich | peach |
| die Pflaume | plum |
| die Sternfrucht | starfruit |
| die Stachelbeere | gooseberry |
| die Traube | grape |
| die Wassermelone | watermelon |
| die Weintraube | wine grape |
| die Zitrone | lemon |
German food words for dairy products
Germany’s love for dairy shows up at the meal as assortments of cheeses, creams, and more. Learn what to call familiar dairy items in German, which make up many of the most popular German foods to eat.
| German | English |
| die Buttermilch | buttermilk |
| das Eis/die Eiscreme | ice cream |
| der Frischkäse | cream cheese |
| der Hüttenkäse | cottage cheese |
| der Joghurt | yogurt |
| der Käse | cheese |
| die Kondensmilch | condensed milk |
| die Milch | milk |
| der Mozzarella | mozzarella |
| die Rohmilch | raw milk |
| die Sahne | cream |
| die Sauerrahm | sour cream |
| die Schlagsahne | whipped cream |
| der Schmierkäse | spreadable cheese |
| die Schokoladenmilch | chocolate milk |
| der Vollmilchkäse | full-fat cheese |
| der Weichkäse | soft cheese |
| die Ziegenmilch | goat milk |
| die Ziegenkäse | goat cheese |
Popular names of drinks in German
Drinks are as prevalent in German culture as its rich and savory foods. A timeless memory for many Germans is walking through a bustling German Christmas market and getting a warm, cozy glass of Glühwein (warm, mulled wine). Discover what other drinks are common at a German dinner table.
| German | English |
| der Apfelsaft | apple juice |
| das Bier | beer |
| die Cola | cola, soda |
| der Kaffee | coffee |
| der Kakao | hot cocoa |
| der Kräutertee | herbal tea |
| die Milch | milk |
| das Mineralwasser | mineral water |
| der Orangensaft | orange juice |
| das Rotwein | red wine |
| die Schorle | juice mixed with sparkling water |
| der Schwarztee | black tea |
| das Sprudelwasser | sparkling water |
| der Stillwasser | still water (uncarbonated) |
| der Tee | tea |
| die Zitronenlimonade | lemonade, lemon soda |
Vegan and vegetarian substitutes in German
When animal products aren’t your cup of tea, feel free to ask for one of these substitutes to make your food in German households more fitting to your needs.
| German | English |
| die Agavendicksaft | agave syrup |
| das Bananenpüree | mashed banana (egg substitute) |
| die Cashewmilch | cashew milk |
| die Chiasamen | chia seeds |
| die Erdnussbutter | peanut butter |
| der Haferdrink | oat milk |
| der Hefeflocken | nutritional yeast |
| das Kokosöl | coconut oil |
| der Pflanzenkäse | plant-based cheese |
| die Pflanzenmilch | plant milk |
| das Pflanzenöl | vegetable oil |
| der Tofu | tofu |
How to describe food textures in German
From the kross (crispy) fried foods common at Oktoberfest in Germany to the airy bread for which Germany is famous, mouth feel is just as important as taste when it comes to German food words. Find the right word to match the texture of your star dish for the evening here.
| German | English |
| bröckelig | crumbly |
| cremig | creamy |
| dicht | dense |
| faserig | stringy |
| Feucht | moist |
| glatt | smooth |
| gummiartig | rubbery |
| hart | hard |
| knackig | crunchy, crisp (for vegetables) |
| kross | crispy (often for fried foods) |
| krustig | crusty |
| luftig | airy |
| samtig | velvety |
| schwammig | spongy |
| sehnig | sinewy |
| trocken | dry |
| weich | soft |
| zäh | tough, chewy |
| zart | tender |
| zerbrechlich | brittle |
Using adjectives in German sentences
Be mindful as you use adjectives to describe the taste and feel of food in German. The ending of your adjective will have to change based on the gender, number, and case of the noun you’re describing. You’ll also have to take into account what kind of determiner, if any, is used for the noun as well, like der (the) or ein (a). Learning which ending to choose takes practice, but patterns quickly emerge once you get into it.
Below are a few sentence examples you can use to put these German adjectives to work:
- Zum Frühstück gab es frisches Obst. There was fresh fruit for breakfast
- Ich mag keinen bitteren Tee. = I don’t like bitter tea.
- Hast du salzige Brezeln mitgebracht? = Did you bring salty pretzels?
Describing flavors of food in German
Point out the best flavors of your meal with friends and family, or critique the potentially sub-par aspects of a rushed meal eaten at a questionable restaurant with these adjectives to describe the taste of food in German.
| German | English |
| bitter | bitter |
| buttrig | buttery |
| deftig | hearty, rich |
| essigartig | vinegary |
| fad | bland |
| fischig | fishy |
| frisch | fresh |
| fruchtig | fruity |
| geschmacklos | flavorless |
| mild | mild |
| nussig | nutty |
| pfeffrig | peppery |
| pikant | savory |
| rauchig | smoky |
| sauer | sour |
| scharf | spicy |
| süß | sweet |
| würzig | seasoned |
| zuckrig | sugary |
Cooking terms to know
While you certainly don’t need to be a proper Küchenchef (chef) to talk about how you produced your dish for the evening, it can be intoxicating to your guests to hear the cooking process described. Elevate the presentation of your dishes by keeping the terms for cooking styles in German in your back pocket for those mouth-watering explanations.
| German | English |
| abschrecken | to shock, cool quickly with water |
| andicken | to thicken |
| anrösten | to dry-roast |
| aufkochen | to bring to a boil |
| backen | to bake |
| blanchieren | to blanch |
| braten | to roast, to fry |
| dämpfen | to steam |
| dünsten | to stew, to braise gently |
| einreduzieren | to reduce |
| erhitzen | to heat |
| grillen | to grill |
| häuten | to skin, to peel |
| karamellisieren | to caramelize |
| marinieren | to marinate |
| pürieren | to purée |
| räuchern | to smoke |
| schwenken | to toss, to sauté |
| umrühren | to stir, to mix in |
| würzen | to season |
Tips for using these cooking verbs in sentences
An important part of learning how to speak German is getting used to the German conjugation of verbs. For the most part, conjugation just involves dropping the -en from the end of your verb of choice and adding a new ending based on the subject of your sentence, which is the noun performing the action.
Below are a few sentence examples conjugating the verb kneten (to knead) with a few different subjects:
- Ich knete den Teig, bis er schön glatt ist. = I am kneading the dough until it’s nice and smooth.
- Ihr knetet viel zu kräftig – seid vorsichtiger! = You all are kneading way too hard—be more careful!
A taste of German with Rosetta Stone
German meals can be as laden with social expectation as they can be with fun, camaraderie, and nourishment. Enjoying the flavors of centuries-old authentic food in German will help you not only build your vocabulary in practical ways, but it’ll also help you take a deeper look into the rich German culture. Our list of 201 words for food in German is sure to help you immerse yourself in rich conversation with other German speakers.
Rosetta Stone can help you take it even further. With interactive live lessons, you can learn the German language through cultural enrichment and the Dynamic Immersion Method that focuses on how you learn naturally. You’ll gain the confidence to host your own dinner parties with Germans and engage in real conversations that make all the studying worthwhile.
