Want to expand your culinary horizons into German cuisine? If so, then we’ve got some German food terms to familiarize yourself with. However, it helps to know a bit about the country and culture before jumping in.
Germany (Deutschland) is a country located in north-central Europe. It shares a border with nine other European countries including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, The Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland. Like many other countries, Germany shares numerous traditions with its neighbors. The influences of Austrian and Swiss cuisines are especially noticeable in German cuisine.
German cuisine
German cuisine is very well-known for its meats and beer to the point that when non-Germans think of German cuisine, images of bratwurst and beer-filled das boots often come to mind. Pork is the most consumed meat in Germany while beef comes in at a close second. Germany has a rich history of beer thanks to the Baravrian “Purity Law” of 1516 requiring that beer only be made from hops, barley and water. Numerous varieties of beer were created from the law including Alt, Pilsner and Weizenbier (wheat beer).
Besides red meat and beer, freshwater fish (in regional areas) and vegetables are also German staples. Alaska pollock, trout, cod and carp are popular in coastal regions. Vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and peas are often cooked as side dishes.
While noontime lunch has traditionally been the largest meal of the day (with breakfast and dinner consisting of breads, cheeses and cold cuts), work schedules have made dinner a larger family meal.
German food terms
Expand your international dining vocabulary with these basic food-related words translated from English to German.
meat – fleisch
- pork – schweinefleisch
- beef – rindfleisch
poultry – geflügel
- turkey – truthahn
- duck – ente
- chicken – hähnchen
seafood – meeresfrüchte
- fish – fisch
- shrimp – garnele
- oyster – auster
- shellfish – schaltier
meatless/no meat – kein fleisch
- vegetables – gemüse
- fruits – früchte
- eggs – eier
- tofu – tofu
- nuts – nüsse
- vegetarian – vegetarier
- vegan – vegan
drinks – getränke
- water – wasser
- alcohol – alkohol
- beer – bier
- wine – wein
other eating/dining-related terms
- yes – ja
- no – nein
- good – gut
- yummy – lecker
- eat – essen
- cook – koch
- I’m hungry – Ich hab hunger
- I’m full – Ich bin voll
- more – mehr
- less – weniger
- only – nur
- please – bitte
- thank you – dankeschön
- baked – gebacken
- fried – gebraten
- grilled – gegrillt
- roasted – geröstet
- steamed – gedämpft
- hot – heiß
- warm – warm
- cold – kalt
- bitter – bitter
- salty – salzig
- spicy – würzig
- sweet – süss
- allergic – allergisch
- bathroom – badezimmer
German food to try
- baumkuchen – German spit cake
- flammkuchen – thin German pizza
- spätzle – German egg noodles
- schnitzel – fried meat (usually pork or veal)
Interested in learning about other cuisines around the world? Discover food terms from other countries here.
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Kristina Reynolds is the Founder & CEO of Glutto and an alumna of the University of California, San Diego. She writes articles & posts for Glutto Digest with insights from fellow industry experts. Furthermore, she is the author of The Fittest Food Lovers: How EVERY BODY Can be Incredibly Fit and Still Enjoy Food, a collaborative philanthropic book with proceeds going to charities that fight world hunger.
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