How to Order at a Restaurant

Learn how to order at a restaurant

Dialogue

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Vocabulary (Review)

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Lesson Notes

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Lesson Transcript

Welcome to Can-Do German by GermanPod101.com.

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to order at a restaurant in German.

For example, "Excuse me, the menu, please." is

Entschuldigung, die Speisekarte, bitte.

Arnold Ahrens, is at a restaurant with his wife.

He asks for the menu.

Before you hear the conversation, let's preview some of its key components.

Speisekarte

"menu"

Speisekarte

kommt sofort

"coming right away"

kommt sofort

Entschuldigung, die Speisekarte, bitte.

Ja, kommt sofort.

Once more with the English translation.

Entschuldigung, die Speisekarte, bitte.

"Excuse me, the menu, please."

Ja, kommt sofort.

"Yes, coming right away."

Let's break down the conversation.

Do you remember how Arnold asks for the menu,

"Excuse me, the menu, please."

Entschuldigung, die Speisekarte, bitte.

First is Entschuldigung, meaning "Excuse me." Entschuldigung. Entschuldigung.

Here, Arnold is using the expression to get someone's attention.

Note, this expression can also be used as a mild apology, but here Arnold uses it to get the attention of the waiter who is nearby.

Next is die Speisekarte, "the menu." Die Speisekarte.

Let’s start with the word Speisekarte, "menu." Speisekarte. Speisekarte.

In German, all nouns have grammatical gender and are either singular or plural. Speisekarte is feminine and singular — a fact which will determine the form of other words in the sentence.

Before this is die, "the," think of this like the English "the," as in "the menu." Die. Die.

Die is also feminine and singular to agree with Speisekarte.

Together, it’s die Speisekarte, "the menu." Die Speisekarte.

Last is bitte, "please." Bitte. Bitte.

All together, it’s Entschuldigung, die Speisekarte, bitte. "Excuse me, the menu, please."

Entschuldigung, die Speisekarte, bitte.

Let’s take a closer look at the response.

Do you remember the waiter’s response,

"Yes, coming right away."

Ja, kommt sofort.

First is the expression ja, "yes." Ja. Ja.

The waiter acknowledges Arnold by saying, Ja, "Yes." Ja.

Next is kommt, "comes." Kommt. Kommt.

Kommt is from the verb kommen, "to come." Kommen.

Next is sofort, translating as "right away" in this context. Sofort. Sofort.

All together, it’s Ja, kommt sofort, literally, "Yes, comes right away," but translates as "Yes, coming right away."

Ja, kommt sofort.

The pattern is

Entschuldigung, ITEM, bitte.

"Excuse me, ITEM, please."

Entschuldigung, ITEM, bitte.

To use this pattern, simply replace the {ITEM} placeholder with the object you are requesting.

Note: This pattern requires a noun phrase.

Imagine you'd like to ask for "the check," die Rechnung. Die Rechnung.

Let’s start with Rechnung, "check." Rechnung. Rechnung.

Rechnung is feminine and singular.

Before this is die, "the." Die.

Die is masculine singular to agree with Rechnung.

Say,

"Excuse me, the check, please."

Ready?

Entschuldigung, die Rechnunge, bitte.

"Excuse me, the check, please."

Entschuldigung, die Rechnunge, bitte.

In German, there are two sets of articles. Definite articles are like "the" in English, and indefinite articles are like "a" or "an."

While the pattern in this lesson works with both kinds of articles, this lesson will focus on definite articles like the English "the."

When specifically referring to something, such as when asking for “the menu," use the definite article. In German, the definite article will depend on the gender of the item.

The definite article for singular masculine nouns is den; for singular feminine nouns, die; and, for singular neuter nouns, das.

For example:

den Fisch, "the fish," den Fisch;

die Speisekarte, "the menu," die Speisekarte;

das Steak, "the steak," das Steak.

Again, the key pattern is

Entschuldigung, ITEM, bitte.

"Excuse me, ITEM, please."

Entschuldigung, ITEM, bitte.

Let's look at some examples.

Listen and repeat or speak along with the native speakers.

Entschuldung, die Speisekarte, bitte.

"Excuse me, the menu, please."

Entschuldung, die Speisekarte, bitte.

Entschuldigung, die Rechnung, bitte.

"Excuse me, the check, please."

Entschuldigung, die Rechnung, bitte.

Entschuldigung, das Steak, bitte.

"Excuse me, the steak, please."

Entschuldigung, das Steak bitte.

Entschuldigung, den Fisch, bitte.

"Excuse me, the fish, please."

Entschuldigung, den Fisch, bitte.

Entschuldigung, eine Flasche Wasser, bitte.

"Excuse me, a bottle of water, please."

Entschuldigung, eine Flasche Wasser, bitte.

Did you notice how the last speaker used a slightly different pattern?

Entschuldigung, eine Flasche Wasser, bitte.

"Excuse me, a bottle of water, please."

Let’s start with eine Flasche, "a bottle." Eine Flasche.

Flasche, "bottle." Flasche. Flasche.

In German, all nouns have grammatical gender and are either singular or plural. Flasche is feminine and singular — a fact which will determine the form of other words in the sentence.

Before this is eine, "a," think of this like the English "a," as in "a bottle." Eine. Eine.

Eine is also feminine and singular to agree with Flasche.

Eine is an indefinite article. When introducing a general item, such as when asking for the price of "a bottle of water," use an indefinite article.

Together, it’s eine Flasche, "a bottle." Eine Flasche.

Next is Wasser, "Water." Wasser. Wasser.

Last is bitte, "please." Bitte.

All together, Entschuldigung, eine Flasche Wasser, bitte.

"Excuse me, a bottle of water, please."

When the noun is the object of the sentence, the following indefinite articles are used.

The indefinite article for singular masculine nouns is einen; for singular feminine nouns, eine; and, for singular neuter nouns, ein.

For example:

einen Salat, "a salad," einen Salat;

eine Flasche Wasser, "a bottle of water," eine Flasche Wasser;

ein Bier, "a beer," ein Bier.

Let’s review the new words.

Speisekarte

"menu"

Speisekarte

Steak

"steak"

Steak

Rechnung

"check"

Rechnung

Flasche Wasser

"bottle of water"

Flasche Wasser

Let's review.

Respond to the prompts by speaking aloud. Then repeat after the native speaker, focusing on pronunciation.

Ready?

Do you remember how to say "please?"

Bitte.

And how to say "menu?"

Speisekarte

Do you remember how to say "the menu?"

die Speisekarte

Do you remember how Arnold says,

"Excuse me, the menu, please."

Entschuldigung, die Speisekarte, bitte.

Do you remember how to say "right away?"

sofort

And how to say "yes?"

Do you remember how the waiter says,

"Yes, coming right away."

Ja, kommt sofort.

Do you remember how to say "fish?"

Fisch

And how to say "the fish?"

den Fisch

Do you remember how to say "steak?"

Steak

And how to say "the steak?"

das Steak

Do you remember how to say "check?"

Rechnung

And how to say "the check?"

die Rechnung

Let's practice.

Imagine you're Aylin Ahrens , and you’re at a restaurant. Get the waiter’s attention, and ask for the check, or die Rechnung.

Ready?

Entschuldigung, die Rechnung, bitte.

Ja, kommt sofort.

Listen again and repeat.

Entschuldigung, die Rechnung, bitte.

Let's try another.

Imagine you're hungry. Ask for the fish, or den Fisch.

Ready?

Entschuldigung, den Fisch, bitte.

Ja, kommt sofort.

Listen again and repeat.

Entschuldigung, den Fisch, bitte.

Let’s try one more.

Imagine you're Arnold Ahrens , and you'd like the steak, or das Steak.

Ready?

Entschuldigung, das Steak, bitte.

Ja, kommt sofort.

Listen again and repeat.

Entschuldigung, das Steak, bitte.

Well done! This is the end of this lesson.

In this lesson, you learned how to order at a restaurant in German, an essential skill for dining at a restaurant.

Remember, these Can Do lessons are about learning practical language skills.

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