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Coffee, tea, still water & martinis - if you want to order a drink in German, you've got to know some important vocabulary. Luckily for English speakers, many words are the same or very similar. Enjoy your milkshakes!
If you're looking for German drinks vocabulary, you've come to the right place. We've compiled a big list of all kinds of different drinks you might want to order, buy or mix yourself.
Before looking at the different names for drinks in German in more detail, let us give you a quick overview of common German drinks. Here are some common hot beverages in German:
And here are some common cold drinks in German:
If you want to dive deeper, keep on scrolling.
Coffee is a popular drink here in Germany, and there are many different kinds of coffees you can order here. The word for "coffee" itself is "Kaffee".
If you order a coffee at a cafe in Germany, you might ask for a "Espresso", "Cappuccino", or "Latte Macchiato". Those specific types of coffee are exactly the same as in English (and are also pronounced the same):
Of course you might also want to ask for "Zucker" (sugar) or "Milch" (milk) to be added.
This post is about different drinks in German, so we won't go into detail about how to order a coffee. But if you're looking for something like that, we have good news: We wrote a full guide on how to order a coffee in German.
Another popular beverage in Germany is tea (der Tee). If you order a cup of tea at a cafe or restaurant here in Germany, you might want to order a specific type of tea such as "Grüner Tee" (green tea) or "Schwarzer Tee" (black tea).
Soft drinks, also known as "Erfrischungsgetränke" in German, are a popular choice for many people in Germany. Some common soft drinks in Germany include "das Mineralwasser" (mineral water) and "die Limonade" (lemonade).
If you are looking for a sweet, carbonated drink, you might order a "Cola" or a "Fanta".
In addition to these mainstream brands, you can also find a variety of smaller, local soft drink brands and flavors.
In Berlin, Fritz Cola is very popular (be careful though, it's highly caffeinated) and Club Mate is a drink very popular in the clubbing scene here in Berlin (and also contains lots of caffeine).
Juices, or "Säfte" in German, are also really popular here. There are many different types of juices available, including those made from fruit, vegetables, or a combination of both.
Some common juices in Germany include "Apfelsaft" (apple juice), "Orangensaft" (orange juice), and "Tomatensaft" (tomato juice). In addition to these staple juices, you may also find a variety of more exotic flavors, such as "Ananas-Saft" (pineapple juice) or "Mangosaft" (mango juice).
Germany is known for its delicious beers and wines, and there is a wide variety of both available. Let's have a look at beers first.
Some common types of beer in Germany include "Pils" (pilsner), "Weizenbier" (wheat beer), and "Dunkel" (dark beer). In addition to traditional beers, you may also find a variety of craft beers and other specialty brews. Maibock.
As for wine, Germany & Austria are known for their white wines, particularly those made from Riesling grapes. Some common German / Austrian white wines include "Riesling" and "Grüner Veltliner".
While the older generation often drinks "Schnaps" as digestif after meals, many younger people like to consume their Schnaps as a pre-drink before a night out. The words for spirits in German are pretty much the same as in English:
Germany is also home to a variety of traditional and regional liqueurs (with the most popular of these probably being "Jägermeister").
These liqueurs are often flavored with herbs, spices, or fruit. Gin from the black forest is quite popular too. A secret tip is "Von Hallers Gin" - a herbal gin made after a recipe by the German polymath & botanist Albrecht von Haller.
Just like spirits, the German names for cocktails are the same as in English.
The only difference here is that the German version comes with an article, which is easy to remember in these cases:
As you can see, for cocktails, the article is pretty much always masculine.
In this podcast episode, we'll share our tips on how to endure the bitter German winter. Topics include taking part in traditions like Christmas markets and Krampus walks, winter food and cozy indoor activities.
