German Café and Restaurant Vocabulary: A1-B1 List with Examples, Quiz & Short Story

Scenic restaurant table setting with a waterfront view, showcasing German vocabulary for cafés and restaurants.

Table of Contents

Introduction to German Vocabulary for Cafés and Restaurants

Whether you’re ordering a coffee, requesting the bill, or booking a table, having the right vocabulary is important for navigating cafés and restaurants in German-speaking regions. This guide is written for beginners and intermediate learners (A1-B1) looking to broaden their vocabulary and engage in dining scenarios. In this article, you’ll discover a list of essential German words for cafés and restaurants, covering nouns, verbs, and adjectives. To help you understand their practical use, we’ve included example sentences, along with links to a quizz and a short story that will deepen your learning experience.

Essential German Vocabulary for Cafés and Restaurants

Here, you’ll find a selection of key German vocabulary related to cafés and restaurants. The terms are sorted alphabetically by the German words (without articles).
German Word English Translation
abholen to pick up (takeaway)
das Abendessen the dinner
bestellen to order
das Besteck the cutlery
das Brötchen the bread roll
die Bedienung the service
die Bestellung the order
das Frühstück the breakfast
das Gericht the dish (meal)
das Getränk the drink
die Gabel the fork
der Kaffee the coffee
der Kellner the waiter
die Kellnerin the waitress
der Kuchen the cake
der Löffel the spoon
das Messer the knife
das Mittagessen the lunch
die Nachspeise the dessert
die Quittung the receipt
die Rechnung the bill
reservieren to reserve
die Speisekarte the menu
der Tee the tea
der Tisch the table
das Trinkgeld                   the tip
trinken to drink
die Vorspeise the appetizer
vegetarisch vegetarian
das Wasser the water
warten to wait
zahlen to pay

Example Sentences for Cafés and Restaurants Vocabulary

Modern restaurant interior with neatly arranged tables, perfect for learning German vocabulary for cafés and restaurants like Speisekarte (menu) and Kellner (waiter).
Enhance your German vocabulary for cafés and restaurants with this image of a modern dining area, including words like Speisekarte (menu) and Kellner (waiter).
To help you practice these vocabulary words in real-life situations, here are some sample sentences:
German Word German Example Sentence English Translation
abholen Ich werde das Essen abholen. I will pick up the food.
das Abendessen Wir genießen ein gemütliches Abendessen. We are enjoying a cozy dinner.
bestellen Wir möchten zwei Pizzen bestellen. We would like to order two pizzas.
das Besteck Das Besteck liegt neben dem Teller. The cutlery is next to the plate.
das Brötchen Zum Frühstück esse ich ein Brötchen. For breakfast, I eat a bread roll.
die Bedienung Die Bedienung ist heute sehr freundlich. The service is very friendly today.
die Bestellung Unsere Bestellung ist noch nicht angekommen. Our order hasn’t arrived yet.
das Frühstück Das Frühstück wird von 7 bis 10 Uhr serviert. Breakfast is served from 7 to 10 am.
das Gericht Das heutige Spezialgericht ist Lachs. Today’s special dish is salmon.
das Getränk Welches Getränk möchten Sie bestellen? Which drink would you like to order?
die Gabel Ich habe meine Gabel fallen gelassen. I dropped my fork.
der Kaffee Ich hätte gern einen schwarzen Kaffee. I would like a black coffee.
der Kellner Der Kellner bringt uns das Essen. The waiter is bringing us the food.
die Kellnerin Die Kellnerin nimmt unsere Bestellung auf. The waitress is taking our order.
der Kuchen Der Kuchen schmeckt sehr gut. The cake tastes very good.
der Löffel Ich brauche einen Löffel für die Suppe. I need a spoon for the soup.
das Messer Das Messer ist nicht scharf genug. The knife is not sharp enough.
das Mittagessen                                  Wir treffen uns zum Mittagessen. We are meeting for lunch.
die Nachspeise Möchten Sie eine Nachspeise bestellen? Would you like to order a dessert?
die Quittung Können Sie mir bitte die Quittung geben? Can you please give me the receipt?
die Rechnung Können wir bitte die Rechnung haben? Could we have the bill, please?
reservieren Wir möchten einen Tisch für vier Personen reservieren. We would like to reserve a table for four people.
die Speisekarte Könnten wir bitte die Speisekarte haben? Could we please have the menu?
der Tee Ich trinke gerne grünen Tee. I like to drink green tea.
der Tisch Unser Tisch ist am Fenster. Our table is by the window.
das Trinkgeld Wir geben immer ein Trinkgeld. We always leave a tip.
trinken Was möchten Sie trinken? What would you like to drink?
die Vorspeise Als Vorspeise nehme ich die Suppe. For the appetizer, I’ll have the soup.
vegetarisch Haben Sie vegetarische Gerichte? Do you have vegetarian dishes?
das Wasser Ich hätte gern ein Glas Wasser, bitte. I would like a glass of water, please.
warten Wir müssen auf einen freien Tisch warten. We have to wait for a free table.
zahlen Wir möchten jetzt zahlen. We would like to pay now.

Test Your German Café and Restaurant Vocabulary with Our Quiz

Want to put your knowledge to the test? Try our free quiz and find out how familiar you are with café and restaurant vocabulary: here.

Learn with a Short Story

You can check out a short story here and see the vocabulary in action!
  • Intermediate Level Story: here.

Conclusion

Building up your German vocabulary for cafés and restaurants can really elevate your dining experiences in German-speaking regions. With the right words, you’ll feel more confident interacting with staff, reading menus, and soaking up the local food culture. Practicing these terms regularly will boost your fluency and make each visit even more enjoyable. Keep practicing, and feel free to come back to this guide anytime you need a quick refresher. Viel Spaß beim Lernen! (Enjoy your learning!)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why should I learn German vocabulary for cafés and restaurants?

Learning this vocabulary enables you to navigate dining situations confidently in German-speaking countries. You’ll be able to order food, make reservations, and interact with staff more effectively.

How can I practice using these new vocabulary words?

Practice by creating your own sentences, role-playing dining scenarios, taking our quiz, and reading the short stories provided. Consistent practice helps reinforce your learning.

Where can I find more resources for intermediate German learners?

Check out our website for more vocabulary articles, quizzes, and short stories.
 
 

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