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Vocab: Drink — A2
Drink vocabulary at A2 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
alkoholfrei — alcohol-free, non-alcoholic
alkoholfrei normally describes drinks and food. In a noun phrase it takes the normal adjective ending, as in ein alkoholfreies Bier.
Das Bier ist alkoholfrei.
The beer is alcohol-free.
das Bier means the beer, and ist means is. Alkoholfrei is predicative after sein, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich bestelle ein alkoholfreies Bier.
I order an alcohol-free beer.
bestelle means order, and ein Bier means a beer. Ein alkoholfreies Bier is accusative because bestellen takes a direct object; the adjective has -es because Bier is neuter after ein.
Dieser Wein ist alkoholfreier als der andere.
This wine is more alcohol-free than the other one.
dieser Wein means this wine, and der andere means the other one. The comparative alkoholfreier is predicative after ist and takes no ending; als introduces the comparison.
Von allen Getränken ist dieser Cocktail am alkoholfreiesten.
Of all the drinks, this cocktail is the most alcohol-free.
von allen Getränken means of all the drinks, and dieser Cocktail means this cocktail. The predicative superlative needs am before alkoholfreiesten; von governs the dative plural Getränken.
die Apfelschorle — apple spritzer, apple juice mixed with sparkling water
An Apfelschorle is usually made from apple juice and sparkling water. It is a feminine noun; in the genitive singular, die becomes der, while the noun stays unchanged.
Die Apfelschorle ist erfrischend.
The apple spritzer is refreshing.
erfrischend means refreshing. die Apfelschorle is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich bestelle eine Apfelschorle.
I am ordering an apple spritzer.
bestelle means order. eine Apfelschorle is accusative because bestellen takes a direct object, and the finite verb bestelle is in position two.
Er trinkt mit mir einer Apfelschorle?
Is he drinking an apple spritzer with me?
trinkt means drinks and mit mir means with me. This sentence is not natural with einer Apfelschorle after mit; the natural sentence is Er trinkt mit mir eine Apfelschorle, where eine Apfelschorle is accusative, not dative.
Der Geschmack der Apfelschorle ist leicht.
The taste of the apple spritzer is light.
der Geschmack means the taste and leicht means light. der Apfelschorle is genitive because it shows whose taste it is; the feminine genitive article is der, and ist is in position two.
Wir bestellen zwei Apfelschorlen.
We are ordering two apple spritzers.
bestellen means order and zwei means two. Apfelschorlen is plural with -n; the whole phrase is accusative because it is the object of bestellen, whose finite form is in position two.
betrinken — to get drunk
Betrinken is normally used reflexively as sich betrinken, to get drunk. It is a strong verb: betrinken – betrank – hat sich betrunken, and it takes haben in the perfect; the reflexive pronoun is accusative.
Er betrinkt sich jedes Wochenende.
He gets drunk every weekend.
jedes Wochenende means every weekend. Er is the nominative subject, and sich is the accusative reflexive pronoun required by sich betrinken; the finite verb betrinkt is in position two and sich follows it.
Er hat sich gestern betrunken.
He got drunk yesterday.
gestern means yesterday, and haben means to have. The perfect uses hat plus the irregular Partizip II betrunken; sich is accusative and comes before the participle, which stands at the end.
Er betrank sich nach dem Konzert.
He got drunk after the concert.
nach dem Konzert means after the concert. Betrank is the strong preterite form with a vowel change, and sich is the accusative reflexive pronoun; the finite verb is in position two.
Betrink dich nicht so schnell!
Don’t get drunk so quickly!
nicht means not, and so schnell means so quickly. This is the informal singular imperative: the subject du is omitted, betrink comes first, and dich replaces sich as the accusative reflexive pronoun.
Wenn er mehr trinkt, würde er sich betrinken.
If he drank more, he would get drunk.
wenn means if, mehr means more, and trinken means to drink. Sich betrinken is at the end of the subordinate clause after wenn, while würde introduces the conditional in the main clause; sich is accusative.
Er wird sich heute Abend betrinken.
He will get drunk this evening.
heute Abend means this evening, and werden is used to form the future. The finite verb wird is in position two and the infinitive betrinken goes to the end; sich is the accusative reflexive pronoun, so it must not be replaced by ihn.
betrunken — drunk
betrunken describes a person who has had too much alcohol. It is often used with sein or werden, and as an adjective before a noun it needs the normal adjective ending, for example ein betrunkener Mann.
Nach der Party ist er betrunken.
He is drunk after the party.
die Party is the party, and nach means after here. betrunken is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; nach der Party is a dative phrase because this use of nach takes the dative.
Ein betrunkener Mann schläft auf der Bank.
A drunk man is sleeping on the bench.
ein Mann is a man, schläft means is sleeping, and die Bank is the bench. betrunkener stands before the nominative subject Mann and takes -er after the indefinite article ein; the finite verb schläft is in position two.
Er ist heute betrunkener als gestern.
He is drunker today than yesterday.
heute means today and gestern means yesterday. betrunkener compares two states with als; after ist, the adjective is predicative and therefore has no ending.
Von allen Gästen ist er am betrunkensten.
Of all the guests, he is the drunkest.
von allen Gästen means of all the guests, and Gäste means guests. am betrunkensten is the predicative superlative after ist; von takes the dative here, shown by allen Gästen.
der Biergarten — beer garden
A Biergarten is an outdoor place for drinking beer and eating, especially common in southern Germany. The compound combines Bier (beer) and Garten (garden), and its plural is Biergärten.
Der Biergarten ist heute voll.
The beer garden is full today.
heute means today, and voll means full. Der Biergarten is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir besuchen den Biergarten.
We are visiting the beer garden.
besuchen means to visit. den Biergarten is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object; do not use dative dem here.
Wir sitzen in dem Biergarten.
We are sitting in the beer garden.
sitzen means to sit. in dem Biergarten is dative because in describes a fixed location here; in dem is commonly shortened to im.
Die Atmosphäre des Biergartens ist entspannt.
The atmosphere of the beer garden is relaxed.
die Atmosphäre means the atmosphere, and entspannt means relaxed. des Biergartens is genitive because it identifies whose atmosphere it is; the subject is Die Atmosphäre, so ist is singular.
Im Sommer sind die Biergärten besonders beliebt.
In summer, beer gardens are especially popular.
im Sommer means in summer, and besonders beliebt means especially popular. Biergärten is plural and the subject, so the verb is sind; im means in dem and refers to a time period here.
der Kakao — cocoa; hot chocolate
Kakao can mean the powder or the drink made from it. In everyday German, heißen Kakao usually means hot chocolate.
Der Kakao ist noch heiß.
The cocoa is still hot.
noch means still, and heiß means hot. Der Kakao is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich trinke den Kakao zum Frühstück.
I drink cocoa for breakfast.
trinken means to drink, and zum Frühstück means for breakfast. Den Kakao is accusative because trinken takes an accusative object; trinke is in position two.
Die Mutter gibt dem Kakao etwas Zucker.
The mother adds some sugar to the cocoa.
die Mutter is the mother, and etwas Zucker means some sugar. Dem Kakao is dative because geben marks the recipient or destination with dative, while etwas Zucker is the accusative thing given.
Der Geschmack des Kakaos ist mild.
The taste of the cocoa is mild.
der Geschmack means the taste, and mild means mild. Des Kakaos is genitive because it identifies whose taste it is; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Im Café gibt es verschiedene Kakaos.
The café offers different kinds of cocoa.
im Café means in the café, and verschiedene means different. Kakaos is plural because several kinds are meant; after es gibt, the noun is accusative.
der Korken — cork, stopper
der Korken is a weak masculine noun: it takes -n in the accusative and dative singular, as in den Korken and dem Korken. Do not confuse the stopper Korken with the material Kork, which means cork.
Der Korken steckt in der Flasche.
The cork is stuck in the bottle.
steckt means is stuck, and die Flasche means the bottle. Der Korken is nominative because it is the subject; in der Flasche describes a location and therefore uses the dative.
Ich ziehe den Korken heraus.
I am pulling out the cork.
ziehe ... heraus means pull out. Den Korken is accusative because herausziehen takes a direct object; in this main clause the separable verb splits, with ziehe in position two and heraus at the end.
Sie gibt dem Korken einen neuen Platz.
She gives the cork a new place.
gibt means gives, einen neuen Platz means a new place, and neu means new. Dem Korken is dative because it is the recipient, while einen neuen Platz is the accusative thing being given; the weak noun keeps -en outside the nominative.
Die Farbe des Korkens ist hell.
The colour of the cork is light.
die Farbe means the colour, and hell means light or pale. Des Korkens expresses possession in the genitive; this weak masculine noun has -ens, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Die Korken liegen auf dem Tisch.
The corks are lying on the table.
liegen means lie or be lying, and auf dem Tisch means on the table. Die Korken has the same form as the singular noun but a plural article; auf dem Tisch is dative because it describes a fixed location.
der Krug — jug, pitcher; drinking vessel, mug
In everyday German, der Krug is usually a jug or pitcher for drinks. The plural is die Krüge, with an umlaut.
Der Krug steht auf dem Tisch.
The jug is on the table.
stehen means to stand or be placed, and auf dem Tisch means on the table. Der Krug is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb steht is in position two.
Ich stelle den Krug auf den Tisch.
I put the jug on the table.
stellen means to put upright, and auf den Tisch means onto the table. Den Krug is accusative because it is the object of stelle; auf takes accusative here because the sentence expresses movement toward a place.
Ich schenke meiner Schwester Wasser aus dem Krug ein.
I pour water from the jug for my sister.
schenken means to give, meiner Schwester means for my sister, and einschenken means to pour a drink. Dem Krug is dative after aus, and the separable verb appears as schenke ... ein in the main clause.
Der Deckel des Kruges ist kaputt.
The lid of the jug is broken.
der Deckel is the lid and kaputt means broken. Des Kruges is genitive because it tells whose lid it is; the masculine noun takes -es after des.
Auf dem Markt verkaufen sie schöne Krüge.
They sell beautiful jugs at the market.
auf dem Markt means at the market, verkaufen means sell, and schön means beautiful. Krüge is plural after schöne; the umlaut and plural ending must not be omitted.
Der Wirt stellt einen Krug Bier auf den Tisch.
The innkeeper puts a jug of beer on the table.
der Wirt is the innkeeper, stellt ... auf den Tisch means puts ... on the table, and Bier is beer. Einen Krug is accusative because it is what the innkeeper puts there; the verb stellt is in position two.
Die Gäste trinken aus großen Krügen.
The guests drink from large mugs.
die Gäste are the guests, trinken means drink, and groß means large. Aus takes the dative, so the plural appears as großen Krügen with the dative plural ending -n.
das Maß — measure; amount, degree; moderation; one-litre mug of beer
In expressions such as das Maß an Geduld, Maß means an amount or degree. It is different from Masse, which means mass or a large quantity.
Das Maß ist genau richtig.
The amount is exactly right.
genau richtig means exactly right. Das Maß is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Wir brauchen ein gutes Maß an Geduld.
We need a good amount of patience.
brauchen means to need, and Geduld means patience. ein gutes Maß is accusative because brauchen takes an accusative object; the finite verb brauchen is in position two.
Mit dem richtigen Maß wird die Arbeit leichter.
With the right amount, the work becomes easier.
richtig means right, and leichter means easier. mit always takes the dative, so dem richtigen Maß is dative; the finite verb wird is in position two.
Die Einhaltung des Maßes ist wichtig.
Following the limit is important.
Einhaltung means following or observance, and wichtig means important. des Maßes is genitive because it tells us which observance is meant; the verb ist is in position two.
Verschiedene Maße werden miteinander verglichen.
Different measurements are compared with one another.
verschiedene means different, and miteinander verglichen means compared with one another. Maße is the plural subject, and werden ... verglichen forms the passive; the participle verglichen goes to the end.
Auf dem Fest bestellte er ein Maß.
At the festival, he ordered a one-litre mug of beer.
auf dem Fest means at the festival, and bestellte means ordered. ein Maß is accusative because bestellen takes an accusative object; the finite verb bestellte is in position two.
Die Gäste tranken drei Maße.
The guests drank three one-litre mugs of beer.
Gäste means guests, tranken means drank, and drei means three. Maße is the plural accusative object of tranken; the noun has the same form in nominative and accusative plural.
das Mineralwasser — mineral water
Mineralwasser is usually sold as stilles Mineralwasser or Mineralwasser mit Kohlensäure. It is a mass noun, so German normally says zwei Flaschen Mineralwasser, not a plural of the drink itself.
Das Mineralwasser ist kalt.
The mineral water is cold.
kalt means cold. Das Mineralwasser is nominative as the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two; this mass noun normally has no plural.
Ich trinke das Mineralwasser.
I am drinking the mineral water.
trinke means drink. Das Mineralwasser is accusative because trinken takes a direct object; the neuter article stays das.
Der Kellner bringt dem Mineralwasser einen Zitronenschnitz.
The waiter brings the mineral water a lemon wedge.
der Kellner means the waiter, bringt means brings, and einen Zitronenschnitz means a lemon wedge. Dem Mineralwasser is dative as the recipient, while einen Zitronenschnitz is accusative.
Der Geschmack des Mineralwassers ist mild.
The taste of the mineral water is mild.
der Geschmack means the taste, and mild means mild or not strong. Des Mineralwassers is genitive because it identifies whose taste is meant; the noun takes -s after des.
Wir bestellen zwei Flaschen Mineralwasser.
We order two bottles of mineral water.
bestellen means order, and zwei Flaschen means two bottles. Mineralwasser stays singular after a measure phrase; German normally counts it with containers rather than using a plural form.
das Oktoberfest — Oktoberfest
The best-known Oktoberfest is the annual festival in Munich, but the word can also describe similar festivals elsewhere.
Das Oktoberfest beginnt im September.
Oktoberfest begins in September.
beginnt means begins, and im September means in September. Das Oktoberfest is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb beginnt is in position two.
Viele Touristen besuchen das Oktoberfest.
Many tourists visit Oktoberfest.
Viele Touristen means many tourists, and besuchen means visit. Das Oktoberfest is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object; the finite verb besuchen is in position two.
Wir treffen uns auf dem Oktoberfest.
We meet at Oktoberfest.
Wir treffen uns means we meet, and auf dem means at the. The preposition auf takes the dative here because this sentence describes a location, not movement; therefore dem Oktoberfest is dative.
Die Atmosphäre des Oktoberfests ist einzigartig.
The atmosphere of Oktoberfest is unique.
Die Atmosphäre means the atmosphere, and einzigartig means unique. Des Oktoberfests is genitive because it shows whose atmosphere it is; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Im Herbst finden die Oktoberfeste in vielen Städten statt.
In autumn, Oktoberfest celebrations take place in many cities.
Im Herbst means in autumn, vielen Städten means many cities, and stattfinden means take place. Oktoberfeste is the plural after die; finden ... statt is a separable verb, so its prefix stands at the end of the main clause.
der Sekt — sparkling wine
Sekt means sparkling wine and is often served at celebrations. It is usually countable when referring to bottles or varieties, so the plural Sekte is possible; do not confuse it with Sekte, meaning cults.
Sekt passt gut zu diesem Fest.
Sparkling wine goes well with this celebration.
dieses Fest means this celebration, and passt gut zu means goes well with. Sekt is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb passt is in position two.
Wir kaufen eine Flasche Sekt.
We are buying a bottle of sparkling wine.
kaufen means to buy and eine Flasche means a bottle. Sekt is part of the accusative object eine Flasche Sekt, and the finite verb kaufen stands in position two.
Wir stoßen mit Sekt an.
We toast with sparkling wine.
anstoßen means to toast, and mit means with. Mit always takes the dative, but the form is unchanged here; stoßen is in position two and the separable particle an goes to the end.
Der Geschmack des Sekts ist fruchtig.
The taste of the sparkling wine is fruity.
der Geschmack means the taste and fruchtig means fruity. Des Sekts is genitive because it shows whose taste it is; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Auf dem Tisch stehen drei Sekte.
There are three sparkling wines on the table.
auf dem Tisch means on the table and drei means three. Sekte is the plural of der Sekt; auf takes the dative here because the sentence describes a location, not movement.
servieren — to serve (food or drinks)
Servieren takes haben in the perfect and usually takes an accusative thing served; a person receiving it can be added in the dative, as in den Gästen. Do not add ge- to servieren: the Partizip II is serviert.
Der Kellner serviert das Essen.
The waiter serves the food.
der Kellner means the waiter, and das Essen means the food. Das Essen is accusative because servieren takes the thing being served as a direct object; the finite verb serviert is in position two.
Wir haben den Gästen das Abendessen serviert.
We served the guests dinner.
den Gästen means the guests, and das Abendessen means dinner. Den Gästen is dative because they receive the food, while das Abendessen is accusative; haben is in position two and serviert goes to the end.
Die Köchin servierte eine warme Suppe.
The cook served a warm soup.
die Köchin means the female cook, and eine warme Suppe means a warm soup. Eine warme Suppe is accusative as the direct object, and the weak past form servierte stands in position two.
Servier den Kaffee bitte!
Please serve the coffee!
den Kaffee means the coffee, and bitte means please. Servier is the informal singular command for du; the object is accusative, and the imperative normally comes first.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, servierte ich selbst.
If I had more time, I would serve myself.
wenn means if, mehr Zeit means more time, and selbst means myself or personally. In the wenn clause the finite verb hätte goes to the end; servierte is the Konjunktiv II form used for an unreal situation and stands in position two in the main clause.
Heute Abend werden wir das Menü servieren.
This evening we will serve the menu.
heute Abend means this evening, and das Menü means the menu. Das Menü is accusative because it is the direct object; werden stands in position two and the infinitive servieren goes to the end.
das Sprudelwasser — sparkling water, fizzy water
Sprudelwasser means carbonated or sparkling water and is normally used as a mass noun, so it has no ordinary plural. To count it, use a container such as ein Glas or eine Flasche.
Das Sprudelwasser ist kalt.
The sparkling water is cold.
kalt means cold. Das Sprudelwasser is nominative as the subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two; this mass noun normally has no plural.
Ich trinke ein Glas Sprudelwasser.
I am drinking a glass of sparkling water.
ich trinke means I am drinking, and ein Glas is a glass. Sprudelwasser is accusative as the substance drunk, but the mass noun has no plural; the finite verb trinke is in position two.
Zum Essen bestelle ich Sprudelwasser.
I order sparkling water with the meal.
zum Essen means with the meal, and bestelle means order. Zum Essen is dative because zu is contracted in zum; Sprudelwasser is the uncountable accusative object.
Der Geschmack des Sprudelwassers gefällt mir.
I like the taste of the sparkling water.
der Geschmack means the taste, and gefällt mir means is pleasing to me. Des Sprudelwassers is genitive because it says whose taste it is; mir is dative because gefallen marks the person who likes something with the dative.
das Trinkwasser — drinking water, potable water
das Trinkwasser is a mass noun for water safe to drink, so it normally has no plural. Do not confuse it with Mineralwasser, which specifically means mineral water.
Das Trinkwasser ist sauber.
The drinking water is clean.
sauber means clean. Das Trinkwasser is nominative because it is the subject, and sauber follows ist as a predicate adjective without an ending.
Die Stadt prüft das Trinkwasser.
The city tests the drinking water.
die Stadt means the city and prüft means tests. das Trinkwasser is accusative because prüfen takes a direct object; the neuter article looks the same in the nominative and accusative.
Viele Menschen haben keinen Zugang zu Trinkwasser.
Many people have no access to drinking water.
viele Menschen means many people, keinen Zugang means no access, and Zugang means access. zu Trinkwasser is dative because zu always takes the dative, but the uncountable noun has no visible article or ending here.
Die Qualität des Trinkwassers wird regelmäßig kontrolliert.
The quality of the drinking water is checked regularly.
die Qualität means the quality, regelmäßig means regularly, and kontrolliert means checked. des Trinkwassers is genitive because it identifies whose quality is meant; wird kontrolliert is a passive construction with the participle at the end.
In dieser Region fehlt Trinkwasser.
There is a lack of drinking water in this region.
in dieser Region means in this region, and fehlt means is lacking. Trinkwasser is a mass noun and normally has no plural; in dieser Region is dative because it describes a fixed location.