German Food Vocabulary

Here are German words for food to start with: Frühstück (breakfast), Kaffee (coffee), köstlich (delicious), Restaurant (restaurant). Below are 96 words (A1–C1) with their English translations and part of speech, across 12 themed lists.

Tomatoes and a red chili on a wooden board
Photo: ka_re

Food Basics

A1–B1
EnglishGermanTypeLevel
breakfastFrühstücknounA1
coffeeKaffeenounA1
deliciousköstlichadjA1
restaurantRestaurantnounA1
waiterKellnernounA1
waterWassernounA1
billRechnungnounA2
spicyscharfadjB1

The rest of this pack is in the app

Food Intermediate

A1–A2
EnglishGermanTypeLevel
breadBrotnounA1
cheeseKäsenounA1
dinnerAbendessennounA1
fruitObstnounA1
lunchMittagessennounA1
mealMahlzeitnounA1
vegetableGemüsenounA1
cookingKochennounA2

Food Advanced

A2–C1
EnglishGermanTypeLevel
dietErnährungsweisenounA2
feastFestmahlnounB1
nutritionErnährungnounB1
delicacyDelikatessenounB2
flavorfularomatischadjB2
groceryLebensmittelnounB2
cuisineKüchenounC1
culinarykulinarischadjC1

Ingredients

A1–A2
EnglishGermanTypeLevel
butterButternounA1
eggEinounA1
potatoKartoffelnounA1
riceReisnounA1
sugarZuckernounA1
tomatoTomatenounA1
flourMehlnounA2
saltSalznounA2

Herbs & Spices

A2–B1
EnglishGermanTypeLevel
chiliChilinounA2
basilBasilikumnounB1
corianderKoriandernounB1
cuminKreuzkümmelnounB1
oreganoOreganonounB1
rosemaryRosmarinnounB1
thymeThymiannounB1
turmericKurkumanounB1

Vegetables

A2–B1
EnglishGermanTypeLevel
beansBohnennounA2
carrotKarottenounA2
peasErbsennounA2
broccoliBrokkolinounB1
cabbageKohlnounB1
cauliflowerBlumenkohlnounB1
lettuceKopfsalatnounB1
spinachSpinatnounB1

Fruits

A1–B1
EnglishGermanTypeLevel
appleApfelnounA1
bananaBananenounA1
grapeTraubenounA1
lemonZitronenounA2
limeLimettenounA2
melonMelonenounA2
pearBirnenounA2
strawberryErdbeerenounB1

More from this pack waits in the app

Grains & Dairy

A1–B2
EnglishGermanTypeLevel
cornMaisnounA1
yogurtJoghurtnounA1
creamSahnenounA2
oatHafernounB1
ryeRoggennounB1
barleyGerstenounB2
buckwheatBuchweizennounB2
wheatWeizennounB2

Proteins & Meat

A1–B1
EnglishGermanTypeLevel
beefRindfleischnounA1
ground beefHackfleischnounA2
hamSchinkennounA2
meatballFleischbällchennounA2
sausageWurstnounA2
steakSteaknounA2
lambLammnounB1
porkSchweinefleischnounB1

Drinks

A1–B1
EnglishGermanTypeLevel
juiceSaftnounA1
milkMilchnounA1
teaTeenounA1
champagneChampagnernounA2
lemonadeLimonadenounA2
sodaSoftdrinknounA2
sparkling waterSprudelwassernounA2
smoothieSmoothienounB1

Breads & Pastries

A1–B1
EnglishGermanTypeLevel
biscuitKeksnounA1
bagelBagelnounA2
baguetteBaguettenounA2
donutDonutnounA2
muffinMuffinnounA2
pastryTeignounA2
waffleWaffelnounA2
sourdoughSauerteigbrotnounB1

Condiments & Sauces

A2–B2
EnglishGermanTypeLevel
hot saucescharfe SoßenounA2
olive oilOlivenölnounA2
soy sauceSojasaucenounA2
bologneseBolognesenounB1
fish sauceFischsaucenounB1
oyster sauceAusternsaucenounB1
sesame oilSesamölnounB1
relishRelishnounB2

Keep going with this pack in the app

Emoji: Twemoji, CC-BY 4.0

A sample of the A1–C1 words. The rest are in the app

Watch Your LanguageVocabulary widgets for iPhone & Apple Watch

These lists show a sample of the A1–C1 words for food. The packs in Watch Your Language hold more and reach the advanced levels, along with every other topic.

The app shows them to you a few at a time, in a widget on your iPhone Lock Screen and on your Apple Watch face, and brings back the ones you keep forgetting.

Common questions

Which German words should I learn for food?

You could start with words like Frühstück (breakfast), Kaffee (coffee), köstlich (delicious), Restaurant (restaurant). This page lists 96 German words for food (A1–C1), each with its English translation and part of speech.

How can I remember these German words?

Reading a list once is rarely enough. Watch Your Language shows German words like these in a widget on your iPhone Lock Screen and on your Apple Watch face, and schedules repeats so the words you keep forgetting come back more often.

Are these word lists free?

Yes. The lists on this page are free to read, with no sign-up. The app holds more words for each topic.

More German word lists