German · Food & Drink
"Food" in German: Essen
das Essen
Food in German is often das Essen, which also means a meal. For groceries on shelves, people say Lebensmittel. At lunchtime you might hear Was gibt's zum Essen? meaning what's for lunch.
At home
Das Essen ist fertig!Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce Essen
Say it
ESS-en
/ˈɛsn̩/
ESS-en. Stress the first syllable. Both s sounds are sharp, like "yes", never a z. The e vowels are short.
"Food" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| das Essen | food; a meal Everyday word for food and for lunch or dinner as a meal. | Everyday word for food and for lunch or dinner as a meal. |
| die Lebensmittel | groceries, foodstuffs Food products in shops; more formal or technical than Essen. | Food products in shops; more formal or technical than Essen. |
| das Gericht | dish A prepared plate on a menu. | A prepared plate on a menu. |
| das Essen gehen | to go out to eat Common phrase: Wollen wir essen gehen? | Common phrase: Wollen wir essen gehen? |
How to use Essen in real life
- 1At home
Das Essen ist fertig!
The food / meal is ready!
Parents and flatmates shout this when dinner is on the table.
- 2Talking about taste
Mir schmeckt das Essen hier richtig gut.
I really like the food here.
Schmecken takes a dative: mir schmeckt…
- 3Planning dinner
Wollen wir heute Abend essen gehen?
Shall we go out to eat tonight?
Essen gehen is the set phrase for eating out.
Mistakes English speakers make with Essen
Incorrect: Ich kaufe Essen im Supermarkt. (for packaged goods)
Correct: Ich kaufe Lebensmittel.
Lebensmittel fits shop goods better. Essen often points to a cooked meal.
Incorrect: die Essen
Correct: das Essen
Essen is neuter: das Essen. The plural Lebensmittel is used for products, not "die Essen".
Good to know
Mittagessen (lunch) is still the main hot meal for many people in German-speaking countries, especially outside big cities. Abendessen can be lighter: bread, cheese, and cold cuts, often called Abendbrot.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing where to eat after work
ChatPal
Hast du Lust auf italienisches Essen?
Do you fancy Italian food?
You
Ja! Mir ist warmes Essen heute wichtig.
Yes! Hot food matters to me today.
ChatPal
Dann gehen wir essen. Ich kenne einen guten Ort.
Then let's go eat. I know a good place.
You
Perfekt. Ich habe richtig Hunger auf gutes Essen.
Perfect. I'm really hungry for good food.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Food" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Food" in German
Is Essen masculine or neuter?
Neuter: das Essen. In the accusative it stays das Essen: Ich koche das Essen.
What is the difference between Essen and Lebensmittel?
Essen is food as a meal or something you eat. Lebensmittel are food products you buy, like milk, flour, and pasta.
How do you ask what's for dinner?
Say Was gibt's zum Essen? or Was essen wir heute? Both are natural at home.
Does essen also mean the verb to eat?
Yes. Capitalised Essen is the noun; lowercase essen is the verb. German nouns always start with a capital letter.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
