German Food Vocabulary

Master German food vocabulary, for culinary discussions and dining experiences.

food

In this post, we'll have a look at food vocabulary in German. Whether you want to order a meal at a German restaurant or just understand a recipe you've found on Youtube, we'll cover the most important words in this post.

This article just focuses on food & meals in German. We have separate posts on German drinks vocabulary or how to order a coffee in German.

German Food Vocabulary

Let's start with some very common words.

food
starter
main course
dessert
snack
soup

Meat Vocabulary

German vocabulary related to meat is an essential aspect of the language for anyone interested in cooking, eating, or discussing food in a German-speaking context. The general word for "meat" in German is "Fleisch", which can refer to the flesh of any animal used as food.

Some common types of meat in German include "Rindfleisch" (beef), "Schweinefleisch" (pork), "Lammfleisch" (lamb), and "Geflügel" (poultry).

meat
beef
chicken
ham
sausage
minced meat

There are also some useful German verbs that are used to describe different methods of cooking meat, such as "braten" (to roast or fry), "grillen" (to grill), and "schmoren" (to stew).

Popular dishes in German cuisine that feature meat are "Schnitzel" (breaded and fried meat), "Currywurst" (sausage with curry-flavored ketchup), and "Bratwurst" (grilled sausage).

Fish & Seafood Vocabulary

In German, seafood is referred to as "Meeresfrüchte" - which literally means "fruits of the sea".

Some common types of seafood in Germany include "Fisch" (fish), "Krebse" (crabs), "Muscheln" (mussels), and "Krabben" (shrimp). Here is a list of German seafood vocabulary:

trout
fish
oyster
prawn
crab
lobster

Seafood is often served in restaurants as a main course, and it is also a popular ingredient in traditional German dishes such as "Fischbrötchen" (fish sandwiches) and "Krabbencocktail" (crab cocktail).

Fruit & Vegetables Vocabulary

fruits
vegetables
apple
broccoli
banana
cauliflower

Breakfast Vocabulary

tea
orange juice
coffee
butter
toast
scrambled eggs

Herbs & Spices Vocabulary

salt
pepper
spice, herb
parsley
basil
chives

Dairy Products Vocabulary

butter
milk
cheese
yoghurt
cream

Baked Goods Vocabulary

bread
cake, pie
bread roll
pastry

Pasta, Rice & Grains Vocabulary

pasta
spaghetti
rice
bulgur
gnocchi

Sweets & Snacks Vocabulary

sweets
chocolate
gummi bears
crisps
ice cream

Drinks Vocabulary

coke
water
wine
beer
lemonade

Dips, Sauces & Oils Vocabulary

oil
sugar
egg
lketchup
mayonnaise
mustard

99 German Idioms

Download our free PDF: 99 German words & idioms. Each expression comes with a German example sentence, a translation & useful vocabulary.

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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.