German cuisine is renowned for its hearty and delicious dishes, and learning German vocabulary related to food and cooking is essential for anyone who wants to explore the country’s culinary delights. In this post, we’ll explore German vocabulary for food and cooking, including ingredients, cooking methods, and common expressions and idioms.
Ingredients Vocabulary
- Das Gemüse – The vegetables
- Das Obst – The fruit
- Das Fleisch – The meat
- Der Fisch – The fish
- Der Käse – The cheese
- Das Brot – The bread
- Der Reis – The rice
- Die Nudeln – The pasta
- Die Gewürze – The spices
- Der Zucker – The sugar
- Das Salz – The salt
Cooking Methods Vocabulary
- Braten – To roast
- Kochen – To cook
- Grillen – To grill
- Backen – To bake
- Dünsten – To steam
- Schmoren – To simmer
- Frittieren – To fry
- Rösten – To toast
- Dämpfen – To steam
- Anbraten – To sauté
- Marinieren – To marinate
Phrases and Idioms
- Guten Appetit! – Enjoy your meal!
- Es schmeckt köstlich! – It tastes delicious!
- Das Auge isst mit – The eye eats too (presentation is important)
- Hauptsache es schmeckt – The main thing is that it tastes good
- Jemandem einen Korb geben – To give someone the basket (to reject someone)
- Ein Suppenkasper sein – To be a soup casper (to be a picky eater)
- Das geht auf keine Kuhhaut – That doesn’t fit on a cowhide (that’s too much)
- Tomaten auf den Augen haben – To have tomatoes on the eyes (to be oblivious)
- In den sauren Apfel beißen – To bite into the sour apple (to face a difficult situation)
- Die Nase voll haben – To have a nose full (to be fed up)
By mastering German vocabulary for food and cooking, learners can fully appreciate German cuisine and communicate effectively in restaurant settings. Learning expressions and idioms can also add flavor and depth to their language skills, helping them connect more deeply with native speakers and the German culture.