German Food and Drink Vocabulary
German splits the day into three named meals: Frühstück (breakfast), Mittagessen (lunch, literally 'midday eating'), and Abendessen (dinner, 'evening eating').
bread
water
coffee
tea
milk
apple
egg
cheese
meat
fish
vegetables
fruit
rice
soup
sugar
salt
juice
beer
wine
breakfast
lunch
dinner
restaurant
cake
butter
pasta / noodles
potato
chicken (meat)
chocolate
hungry
Why Guten Appetit Matters at a German Table?
Guten Appetit, meaning 'good appetite,' is said before eating begins, by whoever starts the meal. The expected reply is Danke, gleichfalls ('thanks, same to you') if someone says it directly to you.
Lunch Isn't the Big Meal It Used to Be
Lunch was traditionally the day's main hot meal, eaten around noon. Work schedules have shifted that pattern for many Germans, who now eat something small like a sandwich at midday and save a warm meal for the evening.
Kaffee und Kuchen: The Unofficial Fourth Meal
Kaffee und Kuchen, coffee and cake, is a standing afternoon tradition, typically mid-afternoon on weekends, that functions as a fourth meal alongside breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the three main meals called in German?+
Frühstück (breakfast), Mittagessen (lunch), and Abendessen (dinner).
What do you say before eating in German?+
Guten Appetit, said by whoever starts the meal; the common reply is Danke, gleichfalls.
Is lunch still the biggest meal of the day in Germany?+
Less often than in the past. Traditionally yes, but many working Germans now eat a small midday meal and a warm dinner instead.
How do I practice this food vocabulary?+
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