Appearance
Vocab: Food — A1 (1)
Food vocabulary at A1 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
das Abendessen — dinner, evening meal
Abendessen is normally used without an article when it means the meal as food: Wir machen Abendessen. It can also be counted in the plural when referring to separate dinners.
Das Abendessen ist fertig.
Dinner is ready.
fertig means ready. Das Abendessen is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir machen heute Abendessen.
We are making dinner today.
heute means today and machen means make. Abendessen is an uncountable noun here, so it has no article; it is the accusative object of machen, and machen stands in position two.
Nach dem Abendessen trinken wir Tee.
After dinner, we drink tea.
nach means after and Tee means tea. dem Abendessen is dative because the preposition nach always takes the dative; the finite verb trinken is in position two after the introductory phrase.
Der Geruch des Abendessens ist wunderbar.
The smell of the dinner is wonderful.
der Geruch means the smell and wunderbar means wonderful. des Abendessens is genitive because it identifies whose smell it is; the neuter noun adds -s, and ist stands in position two.
Die Abendessen im Urlaub waren sehr lecker.
The dinners on holiday were very tasty.
im Urlaub means on holiday and lecker means tasty. Die Abendessen is plural and nominative because it is the subject; waren is the plural past form of sein and stands in position two.
die Ananas — pineapple
The plural is usually unchanged: die Ananas can mean one or several pineapples, so the article or number is important.
Die Ananas ist reif.
The pineapple is ripe.
reif means ripe. Die Ananas is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich esse die Ananas.
I am eating the pineapple.
essen means to eat. Die Ananas is accusative because it is the direct object of esse, and the finite verb stands in position two.
Ich gebe der Ananas etwas Zucker.
I add some sugar to the pineapple.
etwas Zucker means some sugar, and geben means to give or add. Der Ananas is dative because it is the recipient or affected thing with geben; the finite verb gebe is in position two.
Der Geschmack der Ananas ist süß.
The taste of the pineapple is sweet.
der Geschmack means the taste and süß means sweet. Der Ananas is genitive and shows whose taste it is; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir kaufen zwei Ananas.
We are buying two pineapples.
zwei means two and kaufen means to buy. Ananas has the same form in the plural, and it is accusative because it is the object of kaufen.
der Apfel — apple
The plural changes the vowel: Apfel becomes Äpfel. Do not confuse the plural with a regular -e plural.
Der Apfel ist rot.
The apple is red.
rot means red. der Apfel is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich esse einen Apfel.
I am eating an apple.
esse means eat. einen Apfel is accusative because essen takes a direct object, and the finite verb esse is in position two.
Ich gebe dem Kind einen Apfel.
I give the child an apple.
gebe means give and dem Kind means to the child. einen Apfel is accusative because it is the thing given, while dem Kind is dative because it is the recipient.
Der Geschmack des Apfels ist süß.
The taste of the apple is sweet.
der Geschmack means the taste and süß means sweet. des Apfels is genitive because it identifies whose taste it is; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Auf dem Tisch liegen drei Äpfel.
There are three apples lying on the table.
auf dem Tisch means on the table and liegen means are lying. Äpfel is plural and is the subject in the nominative; dem Tisch is dative because auf describes location.
der Apfelkuchen — apple cake, apple pie
This is a compound: Apfel means apple and Kuchen means cake, so the whole word means apple cake. Its plural has no visible ending: der Apfelkuchen becomes die Apfelkuchen.
Der Apfelkuchen schmeckt lecker.
The apple cake tastes delicious.
schmeckt means tastes and lecker means delicious. der Apfelkuchen is nominative because it is the subject, and schmeckt is in position two.
Wir backen einen Apfelkuchen.
We are baking an apple cake.
backen means bake. einen Apfelkuchen is accusative because it is the direct object of backen, and the finite verb backen stands in position two.
Ich helfe meiner Mutter mit dem Apfelkuchen.
I help my mother with the apple cake.
helfe means help and meiner Mutter means my mother. dem Apfelkuchen is dative because mit always takes the dative; helfe is in position two.
Der Duft des Apfelkuchens ist wunderbar.
The smell of the apple cake is wonderful.
der Duft means the smell and wunderbar means wonderful. des Apfelkuchens is genitive because it shows which smell; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Auf dem Tisch stehen zwei Apfelkuchen.
There are two apple cakes on the table.
auf dem Tisch means on the table and stehen means are standing or are placed. Apfelkuchen is plural, with no ending change; dem Tisch is dative because auf describes location.
die Apfelsine — orange
This word is also called die Orange; Apfelsine is especially common in parts of Germany.
Die Apfelsine ist süß.
The orange is sweet.
süß means sweet. Die Apfelsine is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich esse die Apfelsine.
I am eating the orange.
ich means I and esse means am eating. Die Apfelsine is accusative because essen takes a direct object; the finite verb esse stands in position two.
Ich gebe meinem Bruder eine Apfelsine.
I give my brother an orange.
geben means to give and meinem Bruder means my brother. The person receiving something is dative, while eine Apfelsine is accusative as the thing given.
Der Saft der Apfelsine ist frisch.
The orange juice is fresh.
der Saft means the juice and frisch means fresh. Der Apfelsine is genitive because it identifies whose juice it is; ist remains in position two.
Wir kaufen drei Apfelsinen.
We are buying three oranges.
wir means we, kaufen means buy, and drei means three. Drei Apfelsinen is a plural accusative object after kaufen, and the plural form adds -n.
die Aprikose — apricot
An Aprikose is the orange-yellow fruit; in some varieties of English it is called an apricot. Its plural is Aprikosen, with -n added to the singular ending.
Die Aprikose ist süß und saftig.
The apricot is sweet and juicy.
süß means sweet, and saftig means juicy. Die Aprikose is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich esse eine Aprikose.
I am eating an apricot.
esse means eat. Eine Aprikose is accusative because essen takes a direct object; the feminine article eine looks the same in the nominative and accusative.
Ich gebe dem Kind eine Aprikose.
I give the child an apricot.
gebe means give, and dem Kind means to the child. Dem Kind is dative because it is the recipient, while eine Aprikose is accusative because it is the thing given.
Der Geschmack der Aprikose ist mild.
The taste of the apricot is mild.
Der Geschmack means the taste, and mild means mild or gentle. Der Aprikose is genitive because it says whose taste it is; the verb ist agrees with der Geschmack.
Die Aprikosen liegen in der Schale.
The apricots are in the bowl.
liegen means lie or are lying, and die Schale is the bowl or fruit dish. Die Aprikosen is a plural subject, while in der Schale is dative because it describes a location.
die Auster — oyster
die Auster is feminine, and its plural is die Austern. It is usually discussed as food, but it can also mean the living sea animal.
Die Auster liegt auf dem Teller.
The oyster is on the plate.
liegt means is lying, and auf dem Teller means on the plate. Die Auster is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb liegt is in position two, and auf takes the dative here because the oyster is in a fixed location.
Ich probiere die Auster.
I am trying the oyster.
probiere means try, and probieren means to taste or try food. Die Auster is accusative because it is the direct object; the feminine article looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Ich gebe dem Koch der Auster eine Zitrone.
I give the cook a lemon for the oyster.
dem Koch means to the cook, eine Zitrone means a lemon, and geben means give. Der Auster is dative after geben in the meaning ‘for/to the oyster’; the person receiving something is also dative, while eine Zitrone is accusative.
Der Geschmack der Auster ist sehr salzig.
The taste of the oyster is very salty.
der Geschmack means the taste, and salzig means salty. Der Auster is genitive to show possession or relation, meaning of the oyster; feminine genitive uses der without changing the noun.
Frische Austern sind nicht billig.
Fresh oysters are not cheap.
frische means fresh, and nicht billig means not cheap. Austern is the plural subject, so it is nominative; the plural is formed with -n, and the adjective ending is -e after the zero plural article.
die Banane — banana
Die Banane is a common fruit. Its plural is die Bananen, with -n added to the singular form.
Die Banane ist reif.
The banana is ripe.
reif means ripe. Die Banane is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich esse eine Banane.
I am eating a banana.
ich esse means I am eating. Eine Banane is accusative because essen takes the food as a direct object; the feminine article stays eine in the accusative.
Ich gebe dem Kind eine Banane.
I give the child a banana.
ich gebe means I give and dem Kind means to the child. Dem Kind is dative because it is the recipient, while eine Banane is accusative as the thing given.
Die Schale der Banane ist gelb.
The banana skin is yellow.
die Schale means the peel or skin and gelb means yellow. Der Banane is feminine genitive because the peel belongs to the banana; the noun itself does not change.
Die Bananen liegen in der Küche.
The bananas are in the kitchen.
liegen means are lying and die Küche means the kitchen. Bananen is plural with -n, while in der Küche is dative because it describes a location rather than movement.
das Bein — leg; bone; leg of furniture; leg of meat
For the whole leg, German uses das Bein; a foot is der Fuß. In some contexts Bein also means a bone, especially when talking about meat.
Mein Bein tut weh.
My leg hurts.
mein means my and tut weh means hurts. Mein Bein is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb tut stands in position two; weh belongs with tun in this expression.
Ich habe mir das Bein verletzt.
I injured my leg.
verletzt means injured, and mir means to myself. Das Bein is accusative because it is the object of verletzt, while mir is dative because the injury affects the speaker; the perfect auxiliary habe stands in position two and verletzt goes to the end.
Der Arzt gibt dem Bein eine Bandage.
The doctor puts a bandage on the leg.
der Arzt is the doctor and eine Bandage is a bandage. Dem Bein is dative because geben gives something to a recipient or affected part, while eine Bandage is accusative; the finite verb gibt is in position two.
Die Farbe des Beins ist ungewöhnlich.
The colour of the leg is unusual.
die Farbe means the colour and ungewöhnlich means unusual. Des Beins is genitive because it identifies whose colour it is, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Nach dem Lauf tun mir die Beine weh.
My legs hurt after the run.
nach dem Lauf means after the run, and mir means to me. Die Beine is plural and nominative because it is the subject; nach takes the dative, and tun is plural while weh completes the expression weh tun.
Der Tisch hat ein kaputtes Bein.
The table has a broken leg.
der Tisch is the table and kaputt means broken. Ein kaputtes Bein is accusative because it is the object of hat, and the adjective ending -es agrees with the neuter noun after ein.
Zum Abendessen esse ich ein Hühnerbein.
I am eating a chicken leg for dinner.
zum Abendessen means for dinner, esse means eat, and Hühner- means chicken. Ein Hühnerbein is accusative because it is the object of esse, and the finite verb esse stands in position two.
die Birne — pear; light bulb (informal)
The everyday meaning of Birne is pear. The plural is Birnen; the word can also be used informally for a light bulb, especially in compounds such as Glühbirne.
Die Birne ist süß.
The pear is sweet.
süß means sweet. Die Birne is nominative because it is the subject of ist; süß is predicative after sein and therefore has no adjective ending.
Ich esse die Birne zum Frühstück.
I eat the pear for breakfast.
esse means eat and zum Frühstück means for breakfast. die Birne is accusative because essen takes a direct object; the finite verb esse stands in position two.
Ich gebe der Birne etwas Honig.
I put some honey on the pear.
gebe means give or put, etwas means some, and Honig means honey. der Birne is dative because it is the recipient or surface receiving something, while etwas Honig is the accusative object.
Die Schale der Birne ist dünn.
The pear's skin is thin.
die Schale means the skin or peel and dünn means thin. der Birne is genitive and shows which fruit the skin belongs to; feminine genitive has no noun ending, so the article marks the case.
Birnen schmecken im Herbst besonders gut.
Pears taste especially good in autumn.
schmecken means taste, im Herbst means in autumn, and besonders gut means especially good. Birnen is a plural subject without an article; the finite verb schmecken stands in position two.
Die Lampe braucht eine neue Birne.
The lamp needs a new bulb.
die Lampe means the lamp and braucht means needs. eine neue Birne is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; neue has the feminine accusative ending -e after eine.
Die Birne ist kaputt.
The bulb is broken.
kaputt means broken or not working. Die Birne is nominative because it is the subject of ist; in this household context, Birne means a light bulb rather than a fruit.
das Bistro — small restaurant, bistro
A Bistro is usually smaller and less formal than a full restaurant, and it may also serve drinks like a café. The plural is Bistros, with -s and no umlaut.
Das Bistro ist heute geschlossen.
The bistro is closed today.
heute means today, and geschlossen means closed. Das Bistro is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir suchen das Bistro am Bahnhof.
We are looking for the bistro at the station.
suchen means to look for, and der Bahnhof means the station. Das Bistro is accusative because suchen takes a direct object; am Bahnhof means at the station and is a shortened form of an dem Bahnhof.
Wir sitzen in dem Bistro am Bahnhof.
We are sitting in the bistro at the station.
sitzen means to sit, and der Bahnhof means the station. Dem Bistro is dative because in describes a location here; in dem is often shortened to im, so im Bistro is also common.
Die Tür des Bistros ist offen.
The bistro's door is open.
die Tür means the door, and offen means open. Des Bistros is genitive because it shows possession; a neuter noun takes des and usually -s in the genitive singular.
Die Bistros öffnen um acht Uhr.
The bistros open at eight o'clock.
öffnen means open, and um acht Uhr means at eight o'clock. Die Bistros is a plural subject, so the verb is öffnen, not singular öffnet; the plural noun ends in -s.
die Blaubeere — blueberry
The compound Blaubeere consists of blau (blue) and Beere (berry). In some regions, especially in Germany, Heidelbeere is also common for the same fruit.
Die Blaubeere ist süß.
The blueberry is sweet.
süß means sweet. Die Blaubeere is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich esse die Blaubeere.
I am eating the blueberry.
esse means eat. Die Blaubeere is accusative because essen takes a direct object; with a feminine noun, the article remains die in both nominative and accusative.
Ich gebe dem Kind der Blaubeere?
I give the child the blueberry.
geben means give, dem Kind means to the child, and das Kind is neuter. The natural sentence is Ich gebe dem Kind die Blaubeere: the child is dative, but die Blaubeere is accusative because it is the thing given.
Der Geschmack der Blaubeere ist mild.
The taste of the blueberry is mild.
der Geschmack means the taste, and mild means mild. Der Blaubeere is genitive because it identifies whose taste is meant; the feminine genitive article is der.
Im Joghurt liegen Blaubeeren.
There are blueberries in the yoghurt.
im Joghurt means in the yoghurt, and liegen means lie or be located. Blaubeeren is the plural subject; im is in dem, and dem Joghurt is dative because in describes a location.
der Blumenkohl — cauliflower
Der Blumenkohl is usually a mass noun when it means the vegetable as food, so it normally has no plural. To count it, speakers use phrases such as ein Kopf Blumenkohl, meaning one head of cauliflower.
Der Blumenkohl ist frisch.
The cauliflower is fresh.
frisch means fresh. Der Blumenkohl is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich kaufe Blumenkohl auf dem Markt.
I am buying cauliflower at the market.
kaufe means am buying, auf dem Markt means at the market, and Markt means market. Blumenkohl is an uncountable accusative object after kaufen and often appears without an article when speaking about food in general.
Ich gebe dem Kind Blumenkohl.
I give the child cauliflower.
geben means give and dem Kind means to the child. Dem Kind is dative because it is the recipient, while the mass noun Blumenkohl is the uncountable thing being given.
Der Geschmack des Blumenkohls ist mild.
The taste of the cauliflower is mild.
der Geschmack means the taste and mild means mild. Des Blumenkohls is genitive because it identifies which cauliflower’s taste; masculine nouns use des and usually add -s in this case.
die Bohne — bean
The plural Bohnen can mean beans in general, while die Bohne can mean one bean or the plant. Grüne Bohnen usually means green beans as a vegetable.
Die Bohne liegt auf dem Teller.
The bean is on the plate.
liegt means is lying, and der Teller means plate. Die Bohne is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Ich esse eine Bohne.
I am eating a bean.
esse means eat, and eine means one or a. Eine Bohne is accusative because essen takes a direct object; the finite verb esse stands in position two.
Ich gebe dem Kind eine Bohne.
I give the child a bean.
gebe means give, and das Kind means child. Dem Kind is dative because it receives something, while eine Bohne is accusative because it is the thing given.
Der Geschmack der Bohne ist mild.
The taste of the bean is mild.
der Geschmack means taste and mild means mild. Der Bohne is genitive because it identifies whose taste is meant; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Auf dem Markt kaufe ich frische Bohnen.
At the market I buy fresh beans.
der Markt means market, kaufe means buy, and frisch means fresh. Frische Bohnen is plural and accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; after the fronted phrase auf dem Markt, the verb kaufe still comes in position two.
das Brot — bread, loaf; livelihood, means of support
Brot is usually a mass noun when it means bread as food, but it has the plural Brote when separate loaves or kinds are meant. In the expression sein Brot verdienen, it can also mean earning one’s living.
Das Brot ist noch warm.
The bread is still warm.
noch warm means “still warm”. Das Brot is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich kaufe das Brot beim Bäcker.
I am buying the bread at the baker’s.
kaufe means “buy”, and beim Bäcker means “at the baker’s”. Das Brot is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; beim is short for bei dem and takes the dative.
Wir essen mit dem Brot Käse.
We eat cheese with the bread.
essen means “eat”, and Käse means “cheese”. Mit forces the dative, giving dem Brot, while Käse is the accusative object; the finite verb essen is in position two.
Der Geruch des Brotes macht mich hungrig.
The smell of the bread makes me hungry.
der Geruch means “the smell”, and hungrig means “hungry”. Des Brotes is genitive because it tells what has the smell; mich is accusative because machen takes the person affected.
Auf dem Tisch liegen zwei Brote.
There are two loaves of bread on the table.
auf dem Tisch means “on the table”, and zwei means “two”. Brote is the plural of das Brot and refers here to separate loaves; the location phrase comes first, so liegen remains in position two.
Er verdient sein Brot als Koch.
He earns his living as a cook.
verdient means “earns”, and als Koch means “as a cook”. Sein Brot is accusative because verdienen takes a direct object; the phrase sein Brot verdienen means “to earn one’s living”, not literally only to earn bread.
Sie arbeitet hart für ihr Brot.
She works hard for her living.
arbeitet hart means “works hard”, and für ihr Brot means “for her living”. Für always takes the accusative, so the neuter possessive form is ihr; here Brot is figurative, meaning the money needed to live.
das Brötchen — bread roll
The ending -chen makes this a diminutive, so das Brötchen is neuter even though das Brot is also neuter. The plural has no ending change: das Brötchen becomes die Brötchen.
Das Brötchen ist noch warm.
The bread roll is still warm.
noch warm means still warm. Das Brötchen is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich esse das Brötchen zum Frühstück.
I am eating the bread roll for breakfast.
esse means eat, and zum Frühstück means for breakfast. Das Brötchen is accusative because essen takes a direct object; the finite verb esse stands in position two.
Ich gebe meiner Schwester ein Brötchen.
I give my sister a bread roll.
gebe means give, and meiner Schwester means to my sister. Ein Brötchen is accusative as the thing given, while meiner Schwester is dative because she receives it.
Der Geruch des Brötchens macht mich hungrig.
The smell of the bread roll makes me hungry.
der Geruch is the smell, and hungrig means hungry. Des Brötchens is genitive and means of the bread roll; the noun adds -s in the genitive.
Morgens kaufe ich frische Brötchen.
In the mornings I buy fresh bread rolls.
morgens means in the mornings, kaufe means buy, and frische means fresh. Brötchen is plural and accusative because it is the object of kaufe; its form is the same as the singular.
die Butter — butter
Die Butter is normally an uncountable mass noun and has no plural. Use ein Stück Butter or ein Päckchen Butter when you need to count it.
Die Butter steht im Kühlschrank.
The butter is in the fridge.
der Kühlschrank means fridge. Butter is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb steht is in position two.
Ich kaufe die Butter.
I am buying the butter.
kaufen means to buy. Die Butter is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; the finite verb kaufe stands in position two.
Ich koche mit Butter.
I cook with butter.
kochen means to cook. Mit Butter is dative because mit always takes the dative; with this uncountable noun, the article is often omitted.
Der Geschmack der Butter ist mild.
The taste of the butter is mild.
der Geschmack means taste, and mild means mild. Der Butter is genitive because it shows what kind of taste it is; the feminine genitive article is der.
das Café — café, coffee shop
The spelling Café is common in German, and Kaffee means coffee. The word has the neuter article das, and its plural is formed with -s.
Das Café ist heute sehr voll.
The café is very busy today.
heute means today and sehr voll means very busy or full. Das Café is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Wir besuchen das Café am Nachmittag.
We are visiting the café in the afternoon.
besuchen means to visit and am Nachmittag means in the afternoon. Das Café is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object, and besuchen stands in position two.
Wir sitzen in dem Café und lesen.
We are sitting in the café and reading.
sitzen means to sit and lesen means to read. dem Café is dative because the location preposition in takes dative for a fixed place; the second verb lesen follows und.
Die Tür des Cafés ist offen.
The café’s door is open.
die Tür means the door and offen means open. des Cafés is genitive because it shows whose door it is; the noun gets -s in the genitive.
In der Stadt gibt es viele Cafés.
There are many cafés in the city.
in der Stadt means in the city and viele means many. Cafés is plural, and it is accusative after the fixed expression es gibt; the plural ending is -s.
der Champignon — mushroom, champignon
The plural is die Champignons, with -s, as in many borrowed nouns. In everyday German, Champignon usually means the edible mushroom, not every possible type of fungus.
Der Champignon liegt auf dem Teller.
The mushroom is on the plate.
liegt means “is lying”, and der Teller is the plate. Der Champignon is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Ich schneide den Champignon.
I am cutting the mushroom.
schneide means “cut”, and schneiden means “to cut”; den Champignon is the mushroom being cut. It is accusative because schneiden takes a direct object, and schneide stands in position two.
Ich gebe dem Champignon etwas Öl.
I add some oil to the mushroom.
gebe means “give/add”, etwas Öl means “some oil”, and etwas means “some”. Dem Champignon is dative because geben uses a dative recipient, while etwas Öl is the accusative thing added.
Der Geschmack des Champignons ist mild.
The mushroom’s flavour is mild.
der Geschmack is the flavour and mild means mild. Des Champignons is genitive to show possession, and the masculine noun adds -s after des.
Die Champignons sind frisch.
The mushrooms are fresh.
frisch means fresh. Die Champignons is plural, formed with -s, and sind is the plural form of sein; the plural article is always die here.
das Dessert — dessert; sweet course
Das Dessert is a neuter noun borrowed from French and is common in restaurants and everyday speech. Its plural is Desserts with -s, and its genitive singular is des Desserts.
Das Dessert ist sehr lecker.
The dessert is very delicious.
sehr lecker means very delicious. Das Dessert is nominative because it is the subject of ist, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich bestelle das Dessert nach dem Essen.
I order the dessert after the meal.
bestellen means to order, and nach dem Essen means after the meal. Das Dessert is accusative because it is the direct object of bestelle; the preposition nach takes the dative in dem Essen.
Wir essen dem Dessert?
We eat the dessert?
This sentence is not standard German for the intended meaning: essen normally takes an accusative object, not a dative object. Use Wir essen das Dessert; this is a useful warning not to copy the dative form dem Dessert here.
Der Geschmack des Desserts gefällt mir.
I like the taste of the dessert.
der Geschmack means the taste, and gefallen means to please or to be liked. Des Desserts is genitive because it identifies whose taste it is; mir is dative because gefallen presents the person who likes something in the dative.
Nach dem Essen wählen wir zwei Desserts.
After the meal, we choose two desserts.
nach dem Essen means after the meal, wählen means to choose, and zwei means two. Desserts is plural and accusative because it is the object of wählen; the plural article is die, but after zwei it is normally omitted.
der Döner — kebab, doner kebab
The plural is also Döner, with no ending. In everyday German, Döner often means the complete sandwich rather than only the meat.
Der Döner ist heute sehr lecker.
The kebab is very tasty today.
heute means today and lecker means tasty. Der Döner is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich kaufe einen Döner.
I am buying a kebab.
kaufe means buy. Einen Döner is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to einen, and kaufe is in position two.
Ich gebe meinem Freund einen Döner.
I give my friend a kebab.
gebe means give and meinem Freund means to my friend. Meinem Freund is dative because it is the recipient, while einen Döner is the accusative thing being given.
Der Geruch des Döners macht mich hungrig.
The smell of the kebab makes me hungry.
der Geruch is the smell and hungrig means hungry. Des Döners is genitive because it means “of the kebab”; the masculine article is des and the noun takes -s.
Zwei Döner kosten zwölf Euro.
Two kebabs cost twelve euros.
zwei means two and kosten means cost. Döner has the same form in the plural, so the number and plural verb kosten show that there is more than one.
das Ei — egg
Ei normally means a bird's egg, especially as food. Its plural is Eier, and the genitive singular is des Eies.
Das Ei liegt auf dem Teller.
The egg is on the plate.
liegen means to lie or be located, and der Teller means the plate. Das Ei is nominative because it is the subject; auf dem Teller is dative because auf describes a fixed location, and liegt is in position two.
Ich esse das Ei zum Frühstück.
I eat the egg for breakfast.
ich esse means I eat and zum Frühstück means for breakfast. Das Ei is accusative because essen takes a direct object; esse stands in position two.
Sie gibt dem Ei etwas Salz.
She adds some salt to the egg.
geben means to give or add, etwas Salz means some salt, and sie means she. Dem Ei is dative because it is the recipient or target of geben, while etwas Salz is accusative as the thing added.
Die Schale des Eies ist sehr dünn.
The eggshell is very thin.
die Schale means the shell, dünn means thin, and sehr means very. Des Eies is genitive because it identifies the shell of the egg; ist is in position two and dünn is predicative.
Zum Brunch koche ich drei Eier.
For brunch I cook three eggs.
zum Brunch means for brunch, kochen means to cook, and drei means three. Drei Eier is an accusative plural object after kochen; because drei is a number, there is no article before the plural noun.
das Eis — ice; ice cream; ice
Eis can mean frozen water or the dessert ice cream. As a food or material noun it is normally used without a plural; use a measure such as zwei Kugeln Eis for amounts.
Das Eis schmeckt lecker.
The ice cream tastes delicious.
schmeckt means tastes, and lecker means delicious. Das Eis is the nominative subject, and the finite verb schmeckt is in position two.
Ich esse das Eis mit einem Löffel.
I am eating the ice cream with a spoon.
esse means eat, mit means with, and einem Löffel means a spoon. Das Eis is accusative because essen takes an accusative object; mit forces the dative, so einem Löffel has a dative article.
Mit dem Eis wird der Kaffee kalt.
The coffee becomes cold with the ice.
mit means with, der Kaffee means the coffee, and kalt means cold. Mit dem Eis is dative because mit always takes the dative; the finite verb wird is in position two.
Der Geschmack des Eises ist sehr mild.
The taste of the ice cream is very mild.
der Geschmack means the taste, and mild means mild or gentle. Des Eises is genitive because it tells what has the taste; the neuter noun adds -es in the genitive, and ist is in position two.
Im Sommer essen wir viel Eis.
In summer we eat a lot of ice cream.
im Sommer means in summer, and viel means a lot of. Eis is a mass noun here and normally has no plural; the verb essen is in position two after the time phrase.
Das Eis auf dem See ist dünn.
The ice on the lake is thin.
auf dem See means on the lake, and dünn means thin. Das Eis is the nominative subject; auf dem See uses the dative because it describes a fixed location, and ist is in position two.
Die Kinder laufen vorsichtig über das Eis.
The children walk carefully across the ice.
die Kinder means the children, laufen means walk or run, vorsichtig means carefully, and über means across. Über das Eis takes the accusative because it expresses movement across a surface; the finite verb laufen is in position two.
die Eiscreme — ice cream
Eiscreme is a countable noun when different portions or varieties are meant, so the plural Eiscremes is possible. In everyday speech, Germans very often simply say Eis for a portion of ice cream.
Die Eiscreme ist sehr kalt.
The ice cream is very cold.
sehr kalt means very cold. Die Eiscreme is the nominative subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich kaufe die Eiscreme im Supermarkt.
I am buying the ice cream at the supermarket.
kaufe means buy, and im Supermarkt means at the supermarket. Die Eiscreme is accusative because kaufen takes an accusative object; the finite verb kaufe is in position two.
Mit der Eiscreme schmeckt der Kuchen besser.
The cake tastes better with the ice cream.
mit means with, der Kuchen means the cake, and besser means better. Mit der Eiscreme is dative because mit always takes the dative; the finite verb schmeckt is in position two.
Der Preis der Eiscreme ist gestiegen.
The price of the ice cream has risen.
der Preis means the price, and ist gestiegen means has risen. Der Eiscreme is genitive because it identifies what the price is for; the verb ist is in position two and gestiegen goes to the end.
Im Laden gibt es viele Eiscremes.
There are many ice creams in the shop.
im Laden means in the shop, gibt es means there are, and viele means many. Viele Eiscremes is plural; in the expression es gibt, the thing that exists is accusative, although the plural article remains die.
die Erbse — pea
Die Erbse is usually used for the edible seed; the plant is also called die Erbsenpflanze. The plural is regular: die Erbsen.
Die Erbse ist noch hart.
The pea is still hard.
noch means still, and hart means hard. Die Erbse is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich esse eine Erbse.
I am eating a pea.
ich esse means I am eating, and eine means one or a. Eine Erbse is accusative because essen takes a direct object; the finite verb esse is in position two.
Mit der Erbse spielt das Kind.
The child plays with the pea.
mit means with, and das Kind is the child. Der Erbse is dative because mit always requires the dative; the phrase comes first, so spielt remains in position two.
Die Farbe der Erbse ist schön.
The colour of the pea is beautiful.
die Farbe means the colour, and schön means beautiful. Der Erbse is genitive because it means of the pea; feminine nouns keep the same noun form in the genitive.
Die Erbsen sind frisch.
The peas are fresh.
frisch means fresh. Erbsen is the plural of Erbse and is nominative because it is the subject; the plural verb is sind, not ist.
die Erdbeere — strawberry
The plural is Erdbeeren. The fruit is often eaten fresh or used in desserts.
Die Erdbeere ist süß.
The strawberry is sweet.
süß means sweet. Die Erdbeere is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich esse die Erdbeere.
I am eating the strawberry.
esse means eat. Ich is I; die Erdbeere is the strawberry and is accusative because essen takes an accusative object; the finite verb esse stands in position two.
Ich gebe dem Kind eine Erdbeere.
I give the child a strawberry.
gebe means give, and dem Kind means the child. Eine Erdbeere is accusative as the thing given, while dem Kind is dative as the recipient.
Der Geschmack der Erdbeere ist frisch.
The taste of the strawberry is fresh.
der Geschmack means the taste, and frisch means fresh. Der Erdbeere is genitive because it shows whose taste it is; the feminine genitive article is der.
Im Sommer kaufe ich Erdbeeren auf dem Markt.
In summer I buy strawberries at the market.
im Sommer means in summer, kaufe means buy, and auf dem Markt means at the market. Erdbeeren is plural and accusative because it is the object of kaufe; the plural has -n.
die Erdnuss — peanut
The compound Erdnuss literally contains Erde, earth, and Nuss, nut, but it means peanut, not a nut that grows in the ground in every sense. It is countable, so it normally has the plural Erdnüsse.
Die Erdnuss liegt auf dem Teller.
The peanut is on the plate.
der Teller means plate. Die Erdnuss is nominative because it is the subject of liegt; the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Ich esse eine Erdnuss.
I am eating a peanut.
essen means to eat. Eine Erdnuss is accusative because essen takes a direct object, while the finite verb esse stands in position two.
Ich gebe dem Kind eine Erdnuss.
I give the child a peanut.
geben means to give, and das Kind means child. Dem Kind is dative because it is the recipient, while eine Erdnuss is accusative because it is the thing given.
Die Schale der Erdnuss ist dünn.
The shell of the peanut is thin.
die Schale means shell and dünn means thin. Der Erdnuss is genitive and means “of the peanut”; the genitive phrase describes die Schale.
Zum Film knabbern wir Erdnüsse.
We snack on peanuts while watching the film.
zum Film means while watching the film, and knabbern means to nibble or snack. Erdnüsse is the plural form and has no article here because it is an indefinite plural object.
das Essen — food; meal; meal
This noun comes from the verb essen, to eat, and is normally a mass noun with no plural when it means food. Das Essen can also mean a meal as an event, but learners should not confuse it with the verb essen.
Das Essen ist heute sehr lecker.
The food is very tasty today.
heute means today and lecker means tasty or delicious. Das Essen is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir machen das Essen für die ganze Familie.
We are making the food for the whole family.
machen means make or prepare, and die ganze Familie means the whole family. Das Essen is accusative because it is the direct object of machen; the neuter article looks the same in the nominative and accusative.
Nach dem Essen trinken wir einen Kaffee.
After the meal, we drink a coffee.
nach means after, trinken means drink, and einen Kaffee is a coffee. Nach always takes the dative, so dem Essen is dative; because the sentence starts with this phrase, trinken still comes in position two.
Der Geruch des Essens macht mich hungrig.
The smell of the food makes me hungry.
der Geruch is the smell, macht means makes, mich means me, and hungrig means hungry. Des Essens is genitive after Geruch to show what smells; mich is accusative because it is the object of macht.
Das Essen ist um zwölf Uhr fertig.
The meal is ready at twelve o’clock.
um zwölf Uhr means at twelve o’clock, and fertig means ready. Das Essen is the subject, so it is nominative; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Wir laden unsere Nachbarn zum Essen ein.
We are inviting our neighbours for a meal.
einladen means invite, unsere Nachbarn are our neighbours, and zum means zu dem, for the. Zum Essen uses the dative after zu; ein separates from einladen and goes to the end of the main clause.
essen — to eat
Essen is a strong verb with the principal parts essen – aß – hat gegessen. It normally takes an accusative object when you name the food, and the perfect uses haben, not sein.
Ich esse jeden Morgen ein Brötchen.
I eat a bread roll every morning.
jeden Morgen means every morning, and ein Brötchen is a bread roll. Ein Brötchen is accusative because essen takes an accusative object, and the finite verb esse stands in position two.
Wir haben gestern im Park Pizza gegessen.
We ate pizza in the park yesterday.
gestern means yesterday, im Park means in the park, and Pizza is pizza. The perfect uses haben plus gegessen; haben stands in position two and gegessen goes to the end, while Pizza is an accusative object.
Als Kind aß ich wenig Fleisch.
As a child, I ate little meat.
Als Kind means as a child, wenig means little or not much, and Fleisch is meat. Fleisch is accusative because essen takes an accusative object, and the preterite form aß is the finite verb in position two.
Iss langsam!
Eat slowly!
langsam means slowly. Iss is the informal singular imperative of essen; the subject du is normally left out, and there is no object in this short command.
Ich äße mehr Gemüse, wenn ich Zeit hätte.
I would eat more vegetables if I had time.
mehr Gemüse means more vegetables, and wenn ich Zeit hätte means if I had time. Gemüse is accusative because essen takes an accusative object; äße stands in position two in the main clause, while hätte goes to the end of the wenn-clause.
Morgen wird sie bei uns Nudeln essen.
Tomorrow she will eat noodles at our place.
Morgen means tomorrow, bei uns means at our place, and Nudeln means noodles. In the future tense, wird stands in position two and the infinitive essen goes to the end; Nudeln is an accusative object.
das Fertiggericht — ready-made meal
A Fertiggericht is an industrially prepared meal that is ready to heat and eat. The word combines fertig (ready) and Gericht (meal or dish); it does not necessarily mean a frozen meal.
Das Fertiggericht ist schnell fertig.
The ready-made meal is ready quickly.
schnell means quickly or fast, and fertig means ready here. Das Fertiggericht is nominative because it is the subject; the linking verb ist is in position two.
Ich kaufe das Fertiggericht im Supermarkt.
I buy the ready-made meal at the supermarket.
kaufe means buy, im Supermarkt means at the supermarket, and Supermarkt means supermarket. Das Fertiggericht is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; the neuter article das is the same in nominative and accusative.
Ich gebe dem Fertiggericht zehn Minuten im Ofen.
I give the ready-made meal ten minutes in the oven.
gebe means give, zehn Minuten means ten minutes, and im Ofen means in the oven. Dem Fertiggericht is dative because geben takes a recipient or target in the dative, while zehn Minuten is an accusative measure of time.
Der Geschmack des Fertiggerichts ist nicht besonders gut.
The taste of the ready-made meal is not particularly good.
der Geschmack means the taste, nicht besonders gut means not particularly good. Des Fertiggerichts is genitive because it identifies whose taste is meant; the neuter noun adds -s, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Fertiggerichte sind praktisch, aber nicht immer gesund.
Ready-made meals are practical, but not always healthy.
praktisch means practical, aber means but, and nicht immer gesund means not always healthy. Fertiggerichte is the plural subject, so the verb is sind; aber joins two clauses without sending the verb to the end.
fett — fat; fatty; fatty; greasy; rich
For a person or animal, fett usually means fat; for food, it can mean fatty or greasy. Do not confuse lowercase fett with capitalized das Fett, which means fat as a substance.
Der Hund ist fett.
The dog is fat.
der Hund means the dog. The adjective fett comes after ist because it is a predicative adjective, so it has no ending; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Das ist ein fetter Hund.
That is a fat dog.
das means that, and ein Hund means a dog. fetter stands before the masculine noun Hund and takes an -er ending after ein; ist remains in position two.
Dieser Hund ist fetter als meiner.
This dog is fatter than mine.
dieser Hund means this dog, and meiner means mine. fetter compares two dogs and is followed by als; after ist, the comparative is predicative and therefore has no adjective ending.
Unser Hund ist am fettesten.
Our dog is the fattest.
unser Hund means our dog. am fettesten is the predicative superlative with am; it follows ist, while the finite verb stays in position two.
Die Suppe ist zu fett.
The soup is too greasy.
die Suppe means the soup, and zu means too. fett is predicative after ist, so it has no ending; zu fett means too greasy, not simply very fat.
Ich mag keine fette Soße.
I do not like fatty sauce.
mögen means to like, keine means no or not any, and die Soße is sauce. fette Soße is the accusative object of mag, and the feminine adjective takes -e after keine.
das Fleisch — meat
Fleisch is normally uncountable and has no plural. To talk about different kinds, use Fleischsorten.
Das Fleisch ist frisch.
The meat is fresh.
frisch means fresh. Das Fleisch is nominative because it is the subject, and ist is in position two.
Ich kaufe das Fleisch.
I am buying the meat.
kaufen means to buy. das Fleisch is accusative because it is the direct object; the neuter article is unchanged.
Ich gebe dem Fleisch Salz.
I add salt to the meat.
geben means to give or add and das Salz means salt. dem Fleisch is dative as the target, while Salz is the thing added.
Der Geruch des Fleisches ist stark.
The smell of the meat is strong.
der Geruch means smell and stark means strong. des Fleisches is genitive because it shows what has the smell, and the noun takes -es.
Wir essen heute Fleisch.
We are eating meat today.
heute means today and essen means to eat. Fleisch is a mass noun and normally has no plural; use Fleischsorten for types of meat.
fressen — to eat (of animals); to gobble; to stuff oneself
Fressen is the ordinary verb for animals eating and takes an accusative object, as in Futter fressen. For people, essen is neutral; fressen used of a person sounds rude or suggests greedy, animal-like eating.
Der Hund frisst sein Futter.
The dog is eating its food.
der Hund is the dog and sein Futter is its food. Der Hund is nominative as the subject, sein Futter is accusative as the object, and the finite verb frisst is in position two.
Die Katze hat den Fisch gefressen.
The cat has eaten the fish.
die Katze is the cat and der Fisch is the fish. The perfect is hat gefressen because fressen takes haben; gefressen goes to the end, and den Fisch is accusative.
Der Löwe fraß das Fleisch schnell.
The lion ate the meat quickly.
der Löwe is the lion, das Fleisch is the meat, and schnell means quickly. Fraß is the strong-verb preterite; the finite verb is in position two and das Fleisch is accusative.
Friss nicht so schnell!
Don't eat so quickly!
nicht means not and so schnell means so quickly. Friss is the du imperative, so the subject du is omitted; this form is normally addressed to an animal.
Wenn der Hund hungrig wäre, fräße er alles.
If the dog were hungry, it would eat everything.
wenn means if, hungrig means hungry, and alles means everything. Fräße is the Konjunktiv II of fressen; it comes at the end of the wenn clause, while er is the subject of the main clause.
Der Hund wird den ganzen Napf fressen.
The dog will eat the whole bowlful.
der ganze Napf means the whole bowlful, and werden forms the future. Wird stands in position two and the infinitive fressen goes to the end; den ganzen Napf is accusative.
Die Kaninchen fressen jeden Morgen Karotten.
The rabbits eat carrots every morning.
die Kaninchen are the rabbits, jeden Morgen means every morning, and Karotten are carrots. Die Kaninchen is the plural subject, while Karotten is the accusative object.
Er frisst den ganzen Kuchen allein.
He is gobbling up the whole cake by himself.
der ganze Kuchen is the whole cake and allein means alone or by himself. The verb is accusative here because den ganzen Kuchen is the thing being eaten; about a person, frisst sounds critical or humorous rather than neutral.
Der Junge hat sich mit Chips vollgefressen.
The boy stuffed himself with crisps.
der Junge is the boy, sich vollfressen means to stuff oneself, and Chips are crisps. The perfect uses hat vollgefressen with haben; mit Chips is dative because mit always takes the dative, and sich is the reflexive object.
frisch — fresh; new, lively, refreshed
For food, frisch means recently made, picked, or bought and still good. The opposite can be alt for bread or verdorben for spoiled food.
Das Brot ist frisch.
The bread is fresh.
das Brot means the bread. frisch is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich kaufe frische Brötchen.
I am buying fresh bread rolls.
kaufe means buy and Brötchen means bread rolls. frische describes the plural accusative object after kaufe and takes -e because there is no article before the plural noun.
Dieses Brot ist frischer als das von gestern.
This bread is fresher than yesterday's bread.
dieses Brot means this bread and von gestern means from yesterday. frischer compares two kinds of bread and is followed by als; after ist, it is predicative and has no ending.
Der Salat ist heute am frischesten.
The salad is the freshest today.
der Salat means the salad and heute means today. am frischesten is the predicative superlative after ist; use this am form after the verb, not before a noun.
Wir brauchen frische Luft.
We need some fresh air.
brauchen means need and Luft means air. frische Luft is the accusative object of brauchen; the feminine adjective takes -e after the unmarked quantity word etwas is understood.
Nach dem Urlaub fühle ich mich frisch.
After the holiday, I feel refreshed.
nach dem Urlaub means after the holiday and fühle ich mich means I feel. mich is accusative because sich fühlen uses an accusative reflexive pronoun, while frisch is predicative and stays unchanged.
das Frühstück — breakfast
Frühstück can mean the meal itself or the food eaten at that meal. For the activity, use the verb frühstücken, meaning to have breakfast.
Das Frühstück ist um sieben Uhr fertig.
Breakfast is ready at seven o’clock.
um sieben Uhr means at seven o’clock and fertig means ready. Das Frühstück is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich mache das Frühstück.
I am making breakfast.
ich means I and mache means make or prepare. Das Frühstück is accusative because machen takes a direct object; with a neuter noun, das is the same in nominative and accusative.
Zum Frühstück esse ich Brot und Obst.
For breakfast, I eat bread and fruit.
zum means for the and is zu dem, esse means eat, Brot means bread, and Obst means fruit. Zum Frühstück is dative because zu always takes dative; the phrase is a fixed way to say what you eat for breakfast.
Der Duft des Frühstücks ist wunderbar.
The smell of breakfast is wonderful.
der Duft means the smell and wunderbar means wonderful. Des Frühstücks is genitive because it means of breakfast; the neuter noun adds -s, while the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Die Frühstücke im Hotel sind sehr reichhaltig.
The breakfasts at the hotel are very substantial.
im Hotel means at the hotel, sind means are, sehr means very, and reichhaltig means substantial or plentiful. Frühstücke is the plural of Frühstück and is nominative because it is the subject; the plural article is die.
frühstücken — to have breakfast
Frühstücken is a regular weak verb and normally takes haben in the perfect: hat gefrühstückt. It is usually used without an object; the meal itself is das Frühstück.
Ich frühstücke jeden Morgen zu Hause.
I have breakfast at home every morning.
jeden Morgen means every morning and zu Hause means at home. Frühstücke is the finite verb in position two; the time phrase is accusative in form, but it is a time expression rather than an object.
Wir haben heute zusammen gefrühstückt.
We had breakfast together today.
wir means we, heute means today, and zusammen means together. Haben is the auxiliary in position two and gefrühstückt goes to the end; this is the perfect tense, and frühstücken takes haben.
Als Kind frühstückte er nie.
As a child, he never had breakfast.
als Kind means as a child, er means he, and nie means never. Frühstückte is the weak Präteritum form and stands in position two; the time phrase als Kind comes first, so the subject follows the verb.
Frühstücke bitte vor der Schule!
Please have breakfast before school!
bitte means please, vor der Schule means before school, and Schule means school. Frühstücke is the singular imperative with an understood du; vor takes dative here because it expresses a time before an event, not movement.
Wenn ich Zeit hätte, frühstückte ich länger.
If I had time, I would have breakfast for longer.
wenn means if, Zeit means time, hätte means had, and länger means for longer. In the wenn clause the finite verb hätte goes to the end; frühstückte is the Konjunktiv II form in the main clause and expresses an unreal or imagined situation.
Morgen werde ich im Zug frühstücken.
Tomorrow I will have breakfast on the train.
morgen means tomorrow, werde means will, im Zug means on the train, and Zug means train. Werde is in position two and the infinitive frühstücken goes to the end, forming the future tense; do not use the participle gefrühstückt here.
das Gemüse — vegetables
Gemüse is usually a mass noun, so it normally has no plural. To name individual kinds or portions, German often uses expressions such as Gemüsesorten or Portionen Gemüse.
Das Gemüse ist frisch.
The vegetables are fresh.
frisch means fresh. Das Gemüse is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich kaufe das Gemüse auf dem Markt.
I buy the vegetables at the market.
kaufe means buy, and auf dem Markt means at the market. Das Gemüse is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; the finite verb kaufe stands in position two.
Wir kochen mit dem Gemüse eine Suppe.
We cook a soup with the vegetables.
kochen means cook, mit means with, and eine Suppe means a soup. Dem Gemüse is dative because mit always takes the dative, while the finite verb kochen is in position two.
Der Geschmack des Gemüses ist mild.
The taste of the vegetables is mild.
der Geschmack means the taste, and mild means mild. Des Gemüses is genitive to show possession or connection, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Im Sommer essen wir viel Gemüse.
In summer we eat a lot of vegetables.
im Sommer means in summer, and viel means a lot of. Gemüse is normally a mass noun, so it has no ordinary plural; viel Gemüse refers to an amount of vegetables.
das Gericht — dish, meal; court
das Gericht has two common meanings: a prepared food dish and a court of law. The plural die Gerichte can refer to both, so context is important.
Das Gericht ist sehr lecker.
The dish is very tasty.
lecker means tasty. Das Gericht is the nominative subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich bestelle das Gericht mit Reis.
I am ordering the dish with rice.
bestellen means to order, and der Reis is rice. das Gericht is accusative because bestellen takes a direct object; the neuter article looks the same in the nominative and accusative.
Ich gebe dem Kind dem Gericht etwas Salz.
I add some salt to the child's dish.
geben means to give or add, das Kind is the child, and etwas Salz means some salt. dem Gericht is dative because it identifies the recipient or destination, while etwas Salz is the accusative thing being added.
Der Geschmack des Gerichts ist mild.
The taste of the dish is mild.
der Geschmack is the taste and mild means mild or not strong. des Gerichts is genitive because it shows whose taste it is; the neuter noun takes -s and the article des.
Auf der Speisekarte stehen viele Gerichte.
There are many dishes on the menu.
die Speisekarte is the menu, viele means many, and stehen means stand or are listed. auf der Speisekarte is dative because it describes a fixed location, while Gerichte is the plural subject after the verb.
Das Gericht entscheidet morgen über den Fall.
The court will decide on the case tomorrow.
entscheidet means decides, morgen means tomorrow, and der Fall is the case. Das Gericht is the nominative subject; über takes the accusative here because it introduces the subject being decided on.
Der Angeklagte muss vor Gericht erscheinen.
The accused person must appear in court.
der Angeklagte is the accused person, müssen means must, and erscheinen means appear. vor Gericht is a fixed legal expression with no article; the modal verb muss is in position two and the infinitive goes to the end.
das Gewürz — spice, seasoning
The plural Gewürze is used for different spices or seasonings. Das Gewürz can refer to one substance, while die Gewürze often refers to several kinds used in cooking.
Das Gewürz steht neben dem Herd.
The spice is next to the cooker.
steht means is standing or is located, neben means next to, and der Herd is the cooker or stove. Das Gewürz is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb steht is in position two.
Ich kaufe das Gewürz für die Suppe.
I am buying the spice for the soup.
kaufe means buy, für means for, and die Suppe is the soup. Das Gewürz is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; für also forces the accusative for die Suppe.
Ich gebe der Suppe ein Gewürz.
I add a spice to the soup.
gebe means give or add, and der Suppe means to the soup. Der Suppe is dative as the recipient, while ein Gewürz is accusative as the thing being added.
Der Geschmack des Gewürzes ist sehr stark.
The flavour of the spice is very strong.
der Geschmack means the flavour, and stark means strong. Des Gewürzes is genitive because it identifies whose flavour it is; the genitive ending -es appears on the noun.
In diesem Regal stehen viele Gewürze.
There are many spices on this shelf.
in diesem Regal means on this shelf, and viele means many. Gewürze is the plural of Gewürz; in takes the dative here because the sentence describes a location, not movement.
die Gurke — cucumber; fool, hopeless person
Die Gurke normally means the vegetable. The compound Salatgurke is a common word for a cucumber used in salad.
Die Gurke ist frisch.
The cucumber is fresh.
frisch means fresh. Die Gurke is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich schneide die Gurke.
I am cutting the cucumber.
schneiden means to cut. Die Gurke is accusative because it is the direct object of schneide; the finite verb is in position two.
Ich gebe der Gurke etwas Salz.
I add some salt to the cucumber.
etwas Salz means some salt, and geben means to give or add. Der Gurke is dative because it is the recipient or target, while etwas Salz is accusative; the finite verb gebe stands in position two.
Der Geschmack der Gurke ist mild.
The taste of the cucumber is mild.
der Geschmack means the taste, and mild means mild or gentle. Der Gurke is genitive after der Geschmack to show what has the taste; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Im Sommer wachsen viele Gurken.
Many cucumbers grow in summer.
im Sommer means in summer, wachsen means grow, and viele means many. Gurken is plural and nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb wachsen follows the fronted time phrase and remains in position two.
Er ist wirklich eine Gurke im Fußball.
He is really hopeless at football.
wirklich means really, Fußball means football, and im means in the. Eine Gurke is a predicative noun after ist, so it is nominative; im Fußball uses the dative because in describes the area in which he is poor.
Sei keine Gurke und hilf mir!
Don't be a fool; help me!
Sei means be, keine means no or not a, and hilf mir means help me. Keine Gurke is a predicative noun after the imperative sei and stays nominative; this use is colloquial and mildly insulting.
der Hamburger — hamburger; person from Hamburg; man from Hamburg
The food meaning der Hamburger has the unchanged plural die Hamburger. The same noun can also mean a person from Hamburg; context distinguishes the two meanings.
Der Hamburger schmeckt gut.
The hamburger tastes good.
schmeckt gut means tastes good. Der Hamburger is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb schmeckt stands in position two.
Ich esse einen Hamburger.
I am eating a hamburger.
essen means to eat, and einen is the masculine accusative article. Einen Hamburger is accusative because essen takes a direct object; esse stands in position two.
Ich gebe dem Hamburger etwas Soße.
I add some sauce to the hamburger.
geben means to give or add, etwas means some, and die Soße is sauce. Dem Hamburger is dative as the recipient, while etwas Soße is the accusative thing added.
Der Preis des Hamburgers ist niedrig.
The price of the hamburger is low.
der Preis means the price, and niedrig means low. Des Hamburgers is genitive and means of the hamburger; the subject is der Preis, so ist stands in position two.
Die Hamburger sind schon fertig.
The hamburgers are already ready.
schon means already, and fertig means ready. Die Hamburger is plural, but the noun has no visible plural ending; sind and the context show that more than one is meant.
Der Hamburger lebt seit zehn Jahren in Berlin.
The man from Hamburg has lived in Berlin for ten years.
lebt means lives, seit zehn Jahren means for ten years, and Berlin is the city of Berlin. Der Hamburger is nominative subject; seit takes the dative in zehn Jahren, and the finite verb lebt is in position two.
Ich habe einen freundlichen Hamburger kennengelernt.
I met a friendly man from Hamburg.
freundlich means friendly, and kennenlernen means to get to know or meet. Einen freundlichen Hamburger is accusative because it is the object of kennengelernt; habe is in position two and the participle is at the end.
die Haselnuss — hazelnut; hazelnut flavour, hazelnut ingredient
Haselnuss means the edible nut of a hazel tree. Its plural is Haselnüsse, with an umlaut and -e; do not confuse the plural with the unchanged feminine genitive noun in der Haselnuss.
Die Haselnuss liegt auf dem Tisch.
The hazelnut is lying on the table.
liegt means is lying, and der Tisch means the table. Die Haselnuss is the nominative subject; auf dem Tisch is dative because auf describes a fixed location.
Das Kind isst die Haselnuss.
The child is eating the hazelnut.
das Kind means the child, and isst means eats. die Haselnuss is accusative because essen takes an accusative object; the finite verb isst is in position two.
Ich gebe der Haselnuss keine besondere Bedeutung.
I do not attach any special importance to the hazelnut.
keine besondere Bedeutung means no special importance, and geben means to give or attach here. der Haselnuss is dative because it is the indirect object of geben, while keine Bedeutung is accusative; this sentence uses a less common figurative meaning.
Der Geschmack der Haselnuss ist mild.
The taste of the hazelnut is mild.
der Geschmack means the taste, and mild means mild or gentle. der Haselnuss is genitive because it identifies whose taste is meant; feminine genitive uses der and leaves the noun unchanged.
Haselnüsse schmecken gut.
Hazelnuts taste good.
schmecken gut means taste good. Haselnüsse is the plural subject, with an umlaut and -e; the finite verb schmecken is plural and stands in position two.
Ich kaufe Eis mit Haselnuss.
I am buying ice cream with hazelnut flavour.
ich kaufe means I am buying, and Eis means ice cream. mit Haselnuss names the flavour or ingredient; mit takes the dative, but the feminine noun has the same visible form in dative and nominative.
Der Kuchen schmeckt nach Haselnuss.
The cake tastes of hazelnut.
der Kuchen means the cake, and schmeckt nach means tastes of. nach Haselnuss uses the dative because nach takes the dative; the article is often omitted when naming a flavour.
heiß — hot; spicy; hot-tasting
For temperature, heiß means hot and its opposite is kalt. For food, it can mean hot in temperature, while scharf normally means hot or spicy in taste.
Der Tee ist heiß.
The tea is hot.
der Tee is tea. Heiß is predicative because it follows ist, a form of sein, and it therefore has no adjective ending; the finite verb is in position two.
Ich trinke eine heiße Suppe.
I am drinking hot soup.
trinke means am drinking, and eine Suppe is a bowl or portion of soup. Heiße stands before the feminine noun Suppe and takes an adjective ending; the whole phrase is accusative because trinken takes a direct object.
Heute ist es heißer als gestern.
Today it is hotter than yesterday.
heute means today, and gestern means yesterday. Heißer compares two temperatures and is followed by als, meaning than; after ist, the comparative is predicative and has no ending.
Im Juli ist es am heißesten.
It is hottest in July.
im Juli means in July. Am heißesten is the superlative used predicatively after ist; am belongs to this superlative pattern and is not an adjective ending.
Die Soße ist zu heiß für mich.
The sauce is too spicy for me.
die Soße is the sauce, and zu means too. Here heiß describes spicy taste rather than temperature; after ist, it is predicative and has no ending.
Er mag heiße Gewürze.
He likes hot spices.
mag means likes, and Gewürze are spices. Heiße Gewürze is accusative because mögen takes a direct object, and heiße has the plural adjective ending before Gewürze.
die Himbeere — raspberry
Die Himbeere is a fruit; the plural is die Himbeeren. It is often used for the fruit itself or for its flavour in food.
Die Himbeere ist süß und rot.
The raspberry is sweet and red.
süß means sweet and rot means red. Die Himbeere is nominative because it is the subject; ist is in position two, and the adjectives are predicative without endings.
Ich esse die Himbeere zum Frühstück.
I eat the raspberry for breakfast.
esse means eat, and zum Frühstück means for breakfast. Die Himbeere is accusative because essen takes an accusative object; esse is the finite verb in position two.
Mit der Himbeere dekoriere ich den Kuchen.
I decorate the cake with the raspberry.
mit means with, dekoriere means decorate, and der Kuchen means the cake. Der Himbeere is dative because mit always takes the dative; the verb dekoriere is in position two after the opening phrase.
Der Geschmack der Himbeere gefällt mir.
I like the taste of the raspberry.
der Geschmack means the taste, and gefällt mir means is pleasing to me. Der Himbeere is genitive because it identifies whose taste is meant; mir is dative because gefallen takes the person who likes something in the dative.
Himbeeren schmecken besonders gut im Sommer.
Raspberries taste especially good in summer.
schmecken means taste, besonders gut means especially good, and im Sommer means in summer. Himbeeren is plural and is the subject; because the sentence starts with the subject, the finite verb schmecken follows it in position two.
der Honig — honey
Honig is usually an uncountable mass noun, so ordinary German has no plural. For different kinds of honey, speakers can sometimes use Honige, but learners should normally use Honig without a plural.
Der Honig ist sehr süß.
The honey is very sweet.
süß means sweet. Der Honig is the nominative subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich kaufe den Honig im Supermarkt.
I am buying the honey at the supermarket.
kaufe means am buying, and im Supermarkt means at the supermarket. Den Honig is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; the finite verb kaufe stands in position two.
Ich gebe dem Tee Honig.
I add honey to the tea.
gebe means give or add, and der Tee means tea. Dem Tee is dative because geben gives the recipient or destination dative; Honig is the accusative thing being added.
Der Geschmack des Honigs ist intensiv.
The taste of the honey is strong.
der Geschmack means the taste, and intensiv means strong. Des Honigs is genitive because it expresses whose taste it is; the masculine noun adds -s.
das Huhn — chicken, hen
Das Huhn is a domestic bird kept for eggs and meat. Its plural is irregular: die Hühner; the vowel changes from u to ü.
Das Huhn sitzt im Garten.
The chicken is sitting in the garden.
sitzt means is sitting, and der Garten is the garden. Das Huhn is nominative because it is the subject; im Garten means in the garden and uses the dative for location.
Wir kaufen das Huhn.
We are buying the chicken.
kaufen means buy. Das Huhn is accusative because kaufen takes an accusative object; with a neuter noun, das is the same in nominative and accusative.
Ich gebe dem Huhn Körner.
I give the chicken grains.
gebe means give, and Körner are grains. Dem Huhn is dative because it is the receiver, while Körner is the accusative thing given; the finite verb gebe stands in position two.
Die Eier des Huhns sind frisch.
The chicken’s eggs are fresh.
die Eier means the eggs, and frisch means fresh. Des Huhns is genitive to show possession, and sind is in position two because the subject is die Eier.
Auf dem Hof laufen viele Hühner.
Many chickens are walking around in the farmyard.
auf dem Hof means in the farmyard, laufen means walk or run, and viele means many. Hühner is the irregular plural of das Huhn, with u changing to ü and the ending -er.
der Hunger — hunger
der Hunger is normally an uncountable noun, so it is usually used only in the singular. The common expression is Hunger haben, literally “to have hunger,” which means “to be hungry.”
Der Hunger ist groß.
The hunger is great.
groß means great or strong. Der Hunger is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich habe Hunger.
I am hungry.
ich means I and habe means have. Hunger is accusative in the fixed expression Hunger haben, although English usually says “be hungry”; habe is in position two.
Nach dem Sport habe ich Hunger.
I am hungry after sport.
nach dem Sport means after sport. nach always takes the dative, so dem Sport is dative; the phrase habe ich Hunger follows it, with habe in position two.
Wegen des Hungers konnte er nicht schlafen.
Because of hunger, he could not sleep.
wegen means because of, konnte means could, er means he, and schlafen means sleep. In careful standard German, wegen takes the genitive, so des Hungers is genitive; konnte is in position two and schlafen goes to the end.
Hunger macht schlechte Laune.
Hunger puts you in a bad mood.
macht means makes, schlechte Laune means a bad mood. This sentence uses Hunger as an uncountable singular subject; it normally has no plural, so this slot shows the noun used in a general statement rather than a plural form.
der Imbiss — snack; snack bar; snack; light meal
The word can mean either a small snack or the place where snacks are sold. In everyday speech, ein Imbiss often means a simple fast-food meal or snack bar.
Der Imbiss ist heute geschlossen.
The snack bar is closed today.
geschlossen means closed and heute means today. Der Imbiss is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich kaufe einen Imbiss.
I am buying a snack.
kaufe means buy and einen means a in the masculine accusative. Einen Imbiss is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object, and the finite verb kaufe is in position two.
Wir essen am Imbiss.
We eat at the snack bar.
essen means eat and am means at the, from an dem. Am Imbiss is dative because this fixed location uses an with dative, while essen is in position two.
Der Geruch des Imbisses ist sehr gut.
The smell of the snack bar is very good.
der Geruch means the smell and sehr gut means very good. Des Imbisses is genitive because it shows whose smell it is; the finite verb ist remains in position two.
In der Stadt gibt es viele Imbisse.
There are many snack bars in the city.
in der Stadt means in the city and viele means many. Viele Imbisse is plural, and after es gibt the noun phrase is accusative even though the plural form looks the same as nominative.
Nach der Arbeit esse ich einen kleinen Imbiss.
After work I have a small snack.
Nach der Arbeit means after work, esse means eat, and klein means small. Einen kleinen Imbiss is accusative because essen takes a direct object; the time phrase comes first, so esse still occupies position two.
Möchtest du noch einen Imbiss?
Would you like another snack?
möchtest du means would you like, noch means another or still, and einen marks masculine accusative. The finite verb möchtest comes first because this is a yes-no question, while einen Imbiss is its accusative object.
der Joghurt — yogurt
This entry uses the masculine article der Joghurt. Joghurt is also commonly used as a neuter noun with das; the masculine and neuter variants have the same usual plural, Joghurts.
Der Joghurt ist im Kühlschrank.
The yogurt is in the fridge.
im Kühlschrank means in the fridge. Der Joghurt is nominative because it is the subject; im Kühlschrank is a dative location phrase.
Ich esse den Joghurt zum Frühstück.
I eat the yogurt for breakfast.
esse means eat, and zum Frühstück means for breakfast. den Joghurt is accusative because essen takes a direct object; the finite verb esse is in position two.
Ich gebe dem Joghurt etwas Honig dazu.
I add some honey to the yogurt.
gebe ... dazu means add, etwas means some, and Honig means honey. dem Joghurt is dative because geben identifies the recipient or target, while etwas Honig is the accusative thing added.
Der Geschmack des Joghurts ist mild.
The taste of the yogurt is mild.
der Geschmack means the taste, and mild means mild or not strong. des Joghurts is genitive because it shows whose taste it is; the masculine article is des and the noun ends in -s.
Im Supermarkt stehen viele Joghurts.
There are many yogurts in the supermarket.
im Supermarkt means in the supermarket, stehen means stand or are displayed, and viele means many. Joghurts is plural after viele; the borrowed noun normally forms its plural with -s.
Zum Joghurt esse ich gern frisches Obst.
I like eating fresh fruit with yogurt.
zum Joghurt means with the yogurt, gern means gladly or like to, and frisches Obst means fresh fruit. zum is short for zu dem, so Joghurt is dative after zu; esse is in position two.
das Joghurt — yogurt
This entry gives the neuter variant das Joghurt; the masculine variant der Joghurt is also common in German. The plural is Joghurts, not Joghurte.
Das Joghurt ist im Kühlschrank.
The yogurt is in the fridge.
der Kühlschrank means fridge. Das Joghurt is the subject in the nominative case, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich esse das Joghurt zum Frühstück.
I eat the yogurt for breakfast.
essen means to eat and zum Frühstück means for breakfast. Das Joghurt is accusative because essen takes a direct object, and esse stands in position two.
Ich gebe dem Kind dem Joghurt.
I give the yogurt to the child.
geben means to give and dem Kind means to the child. Dem Joghurt is dative because it is the thing given in this sentence, while gebe stands in position two.
Der Geschmack des Joghurts ist mild.
The taste of the yogurt is mild.
der Geschmack means the taste and mild means mild. Des Joghurts is genitive because it identifies whose taste it is; the neuter article is des and the noun adds -s.
Im Laden stehen viele Joghurts.
There are many yogurts in the shop.
im Laden means in the shop and viele means many. Joghurts is the plural after viele, and stehen is in position two after the fronted phrase.