German · Food & Drink
"Rice" in German: Reis
der Reis
Rice in German is der Reis, and it sounds almost exactly like the English word. It is masculine, and like in English you don't count it: you buy Reis or ein Kilo Reis, never "a rice". Germans eat it as a side dish, with curries, and as Milchreis, a sweet rice pudding.
At the supermarket
Entschuldigung, wo finde ich den Reis?Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce Reis
Say it
RYSE
/ʁaɪ̯s/
Reis sounds very close to English "rice", because German ei is always said like "eye". The R is made at the back of the throat, like a soft gargle. The final s is sharp, as in "yes", never a z.
"Rice" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| der Reis | rice The default word for the grain, cooked or uncooked. | The default word for the grain, cooked or uncooked. |
| der Naturreis | brown rice What you see on packets in the supermarket. Vollkornreis means the same. | What you see on packets in the supermarket. Vollkornreis means the same. |
| der Milchreis | rice pudding Rice cooked slowly in milk, eaten warm or cold, often as a sweet lunch. | Rice cooked slowly in milk, eaten warm or cold, often as a sweet lunch. |
| der Kochbeutelreis | boil-in-bag rice Rice sold in small cooking bags, a very common sight in German kitchens. | Rice sold in small cooking bags, a very common sight in German kitchens. |
How to use Reis in real life
- 1At the supermarket
Entschuldigung, wo finde ich den Reis?
Excuse me, where can I find the rice?
After finden, der Reis becomes den Reis. Only masculine nouns change their article like this.
- 2At a restaurant
Kann ich statt Pommes Reis haben?
Can I have rice instead of fries?
German menus list side dishes as Beilagen, and asking to swap one is a normal request.
- 3At home with family
Heute gibt es Milchreis mit Zimt und Zucker!
Today we're having rice pudding with cinnamon and sugar!
Es gibt means "there is" and is the usual way to say what's for lunch or dinner.
Mistakes English speakers make with Reis
Incorrect: Ich brauche einen Reis.
Correct: Ich brauche Reis.
Reis is uncountable, so don't use einen. Say Reis on its own, etwas Reis (some rice), or ein Kilo Reis.
Incorrect: Wir essen heute reis.
Correct: Wir essen heute Reis.
All German nouns start with a capital letter, even in the middle of a sentence. The same goes for Brot, Nudeln, and Kartoffeln.
Good to know
Rice is not a traditional staple in German cooking. Potatoes, bread, and noodles fill that role, and savory rice dishes became common mostly through Asian, Turkish, and other international cooking. The big exception is Milchreis: rice cooked in milk and sugar, served with cinnamon sugar, apple sauce, or warm cherries. Many families eat it as a sweet main meal, not only as a dessert.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Ordering at an Asian takeaway in Berlin
ChatPal
Hallo! Was darf's sein?
Hi! What can I get you?
You
Ich nehme das Hähnchen süßsauer mit Reis, bitte.
I'll have the sweet and sour chicken with rice, please.
ChatPal
Gern. Gebratenen Reis oder normalen Reis?
Sure. Fried rice or plain rice?
You
Gebratenen Reis, bitte. Und zum Mitnehmen.
Fried rice, please. And to take away.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Rice" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Rice" in German
Is Reis masculine or feminine?
Reis is masculine: der Reis. As the object of a verb it becomes den Reis, as in Ich koche den Reis (I'm cooking the rice). After mit you usually drop the article: Hähnchen mit Reis.
What is the difference between Reis and Reise?
Die Reise means a trip or journey, as in Gute Reise! (Have a good trip!). It has two syllables, RYE-zeh, while Reis has one. That extra e changes both the meaning and the gender.
How do you say brown rice in German?
Brown rice is Naturreis or Vollkornreis. Vollkorn means wholegrain, so you will see the same word on bread in the bakery: das Vollkornbrot.
What is Milchreis?
Milchreis is short-grain rice cooked slowly in milk with a little sugar until it is thick and creamy. You can eat it warm or cold, and supermarkets also sell it ready-made in small cups.
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- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
