German · Everyday Verbs
"to drink" in German: trinken
trinken
To drink in German is trinken. Say Ich trinke Wasser or Was trinkst du? Drinks as a noun are Getränke. When toasting, Prost! is the everyday cheer.
At dinner
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How to pronounce trinken
Say it
TRINK-en
/ˈtʁɪŋkn̩/
TRINK-en. The i is short as in "ink". Clear k. Stress the first syllable.
"to drink" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| trinken | to drink Default verb. | Default verb. |
| austrinken | to drink up Finish your glass. | Finish your glass. |
| etwas trinken gehen | to go for a drink Social outing. | Social outing. |
| das Getränk | a drink Noun form on menus. | Noun form on menus. |
How to use trinken in real life
- 1At dinner
Was möchtest du trinken?
What would you like to drink?
Polite host question.
- 2About habits
Ich trinke morgens immer Kaffee.
I always drink coffee in the morning.
Trinke is the ich form.
- 3In a bar
Sollen wir noch etwas trinken?
Shall we have another drink?
Noch etwas trinken means have something more to drink.
Mistakes English speakers make with trinken
Incorrect: Ich drinke Wasser.
Correct: Ich trinke Wasser.
German has trinken, not a d- spelling like English drink.
Incorrect: Ich bin Durst und will trinken.
Correct: Ich habe Durst und will trinken.
Thirst uses haben: Ich habe Durst. Then you can trinken.
Good to know
Asking Was trinkst du? is normal small talk. Soft drinks are often grouped as alkoholfreie Getränke on menus. At celebrations, wait for eye contact when you say Prost; many locals treat that as polite toast etiquette.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Ordering at a street café
ChatPal
Was willst du trinken?
What do you want to drink?
You
Ich trinke eine Apfelschorle.
I'll drink an apple spritzer.
ChatPal
Gute Wahl. Ich trinke Wasser mit Sprudel.
Good choice. I'll drink sparkling water.
You
Prost! Schön, zusammen etwas zu trinken.
Cheers! Nice to drink something together.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to drink" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to drink" in German
How do you conjugate trinken in the present?
Ich trinke, du trinkst, er trinkt, wir trinken, ihr trinkt, sie trinken.
What is Getränk?
A drink / beverage. Menus list Getränke separately from food.
How do you say I'm thirsty?
Ich habe Durst, not Ich bin Durst.
What do you say when toasting?
Prost! With wine people also say Zum Wohl!
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- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
