German collections

Everyday

Order, Eat & Drink Like a German

Order, ask about ingredients, make a small change and pay with confidence.

A1/A22 chapters 8 steps75 min

View learning path

What you'll be able to do

Order a drink and a meal clearly.
Ask staff to check an ingredient or change.
Resolve a simple order or bill problem politely.
Understand the key details in common food-and-drink exchanges.
Practise a complete meal interaction from arrival to payment.

Your learning path

01

Choose and order

0/4 complete

1 Up next How to order drinks in German in a café? External resource · 10 min
2 External resource Ordering food in German: a quick guide for eating out in a café External resource · 10 min
3 External resource German restaurant vocabulary - Selecting things from the menu External resource · 10 min
4 External resource Karin und Eva gehen einkaufen External resource · 8 min

02

Adapt, solve and pay

0/4 complete

Practice pack · Klaro original draft

Step 7 of 8 · Practice pack · ~12 min study

Your 30 useful phrases and practice pack

Choose five entries, change a detail, then use them in a short exchange.

Practice pack · Klaro original draft

Original phrase pack — 30 entries

Choose five entries, change a detail, then use them in a short exchange.

30 entries · 3 questions

Phrase pack · Klaro original draft

Original phrase pack — 30 entries

Choose five entries, change a detail, then use them in a short exchange.

Food and drink

#	German	Natural English meaning	Use and register
1	Einen Tisch für zwei, bitte.	A table for two, please.	polite; arrive at a restaurant
2	Könnten wir die Speisekarte haben?	Could we see the menu?	polite; request a menu
3	Was empfehlen Sie?	What would you recommend?	polite; ask for a recommendation
4	Ich hätte gern einen Kaffee.	I'd like a coffee, please.	polite; order one drink
5	Stilles Wasser, bitte.	Still water, please.	polite; distinguish still/sparkling
6	Ohne Käse, bitte.	Without cheese, please.	polite; request a modification
7	Sind da Nüsse drin?	Does this contain nuts?	neutral; ask about ingredients, not a safety guarantee
8	Ich esse kein Fleisch.	I don't eat meat.	neutral; state a dietary preference
9	Zum Mitnehmen, bitte.	For takeaway, please.	polite; specify takeaway
10	Das ist alles, danke.	That's all, thanks.	polite; finish ordering
11	Könnten wir bitte die Rechnung haben?	Could we have the bill?	polite; request the bill
12	Können wir getrennt bezahlen?	Can we pay separately?	neutral; ask, don't assume it is possible

Food follow-up questions

#	German	Natural English meaning	Use and register
13	Könnte ich zwei davon haben?	Could I have two of these?	polite; point at bakery items
14	Ist das süß oder herzhaft?	Is this sweet or savoury?	neutral; ask before choosing
15	Mit Hafermilch, bitte.	With oat milk, please.	polite; order modification
16	Einen kleinen, bitte.	A small one, please.	polite; size request; einen kleinen refers to masculine Kaffee
17	Können wir draußen sitzen?	Could we sit outside?	neutral; ask for outdoor seating
18	Könnten wir noch einen Moment haben?	Could we have a little more time?	polite; not ready to order
19	Gibt es etwas Vegetarisches?	Is there a vegetarian option?	neutral; ask about menu options
20	Könnten Sie in der Küche nachfragen?	Could you check with the kitchen?	polite; clarify ingredients
21	Ich hatte die Suppe bestellt.	I ordered the soup.	polite; explain a wrong order
22	Könnten wir etwas Brot bekommen?	Could we have some bread?	polite; request an extra
23	Zweihundert Gramm, bitte.	Two hundred grams, please.	polite; market purchase
24	Sind die reif?	Are these ripe?	neutral; ask about fruit
25	Das reicht, danke.	That's enough, thanks.	polite; stop a market portion
26	Könnte ich eine Gabel bekommen?	Could I have a fork?	polite; request missing cutlery
27	Unsere Getränke sind noch nicht da.	We haven't received our drinks.	polite; follow up an order
28	Könnten Sie diesen Posten auf der Rechnung erklären?	Could you explain this item on the bill?	polite; query a charge
29	Ist die Bedienung im Preis enthalten?	Is service included?	neutral; ask, don't infer local tipping rules
30	Das Essen war sehr lecker, danke.	The food was lovely, thank you.	polite; thank staff

Short reading · Klaro original

A meal with a friend

Wir fragen nach einem Tisch draußen. Ich bestelle Suppe und stilles Wasser. Meine Begleitung isst kein Fleisch und fragt nach einem vegetarischen Gericht. Die Bedienung fragt in der Küche nach. Am Ende fragen wir, ob wir getrennt bezahlen können.

English meaning

We ask for a table outside. I order soup and still water. My friend does not eat meat and asks about a vegetarian dish. The server checks with the kitchen. At the end, we ask if we can pay separately.

Self-check

Read once, hide the paragraph and answer. Then check the key. This is a practice activity, not a CEFR assessment.

Where do they want to sit?
Show answer
Outside.
What does the narrator drink?
Show answer
Still water.
What do they ask about at the end?
Show answer
Paying separately.

Transfer task

Rewrite the situation using your own day, place or preference, then say it aloud without looking.

Reference card

Use Sie / Ihnen / Ihr with an adult stranger or in a formal service/work interaction unless you agree to use du. Du / dir / dein fits friends and informal contexts. Learn the noun with its article. Ich hätte gern… makes a useful polite request. These examples focus on Germany; everyday vocabulary and pronunciation also vary across Austria and Switzerland.

Ask staff to confirm ingredients rather than assuming that omitting one ingredient makes a dish suitable. Use the language to request a check; the Collection does not certify ingredients or local customs.