German · Food & Drink

"Shrimp" in German: Garnele

die Garnele

Say it: gar-NAY-luhfeminine · die Garnelenoun/ɡaʁˈneːlə/

Shrimp in German is die Garnele. Plural is die Garnelen. Menus may also say Shrimp, but Garnele is the clear German word.

Ordering

Ich hätte gern die Pasta mit Garnele.
I'd like the pasta with shrimp.
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How to pronounce Garnele

Say it

gar-NAY-luh

/ɡaʁˈneːlə/

gar-NAY-luh. Stress NAY. Soft final e.

"Shrimp" in German: quick reference

GermanEnglish
die Garnelethe shrimp / prawn

Standard German.

die Garnelenthe shrimp (plural)

Plural.

Riesengarnelenjumbo shrimp / prawns

Menu size word.

Shrimpsshrimp (loanword)

Seen on casual menus.

How to use Garnele in real life

  1. 1Ordering

    Ich hätte gern die Pasta mit Garnele.

    I'd like the pasta with shrimp.

    Mit Garnele.

  2. 2Cooking

    Die Garnelen brauchen nur wenige Minuten in der Pfanne.

    The shrimp need only a few minutes in the pan.

    Plural Garnelen.

  3. 3Allergy check

    Ist in der Soße eine Garnele verarbeitet?

    Is there any shrimp processed in the sauce?

    Eine Garnele.

Mistakes English speakers make with Garnele

Incorrect: das Shrimp (only)

Correct: die Garnele

Prefer Garnele as the German headword.

Incorrect: der Garnele

Correct: die Garnele

Garnele is feminine: die.

Good to know

Coastal restaurants serve Garnelen grilled or in cocktail. Inland, frozen Garnelen are common. People with shellfish allergies ask early: Enthalten die Garnelen…?

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Choosing seafood at a market stall

  1. ChatPal

    Nehmen wir Garnelen oder Fisch?

    Shall we take shrimp or fish?

  2. You

    Garnelen. Eine große Garnele reicht mir als Probe.

    Shrimp. One big shrimp is enough as a taste.

  3. ChatPal

    Die Garnele sieht frisch aus.

    The shrimp looks fresh.

  4. You

    Dann zwei Portionen Garnelen, bitte.

    Then two portions of shrimp, please.

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"Shrimp" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Shrimp" in German

How do you say shrimp?

Die Garnele.

Plural?

Die Garnelen.

Menu loanword?

Sometimes Shrimps, but Garnele is clearer.

Gender?

Feminine: die Garnele.

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