German · Food & Drink
"What do you recommend?" in German: Was empfehlen Sie?
Was empfehlen Sie?
What do you recommend in German is Was empfehlen Sie? It fits waiters and shop staff. With friends, soften to Was empfiehlst du?
Fine dining
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How to pronounce Was empfehlen Sie?
Say it
vass em-PFAY-len zee
/vas ɛmˈpfeːlən ziː/
vass em-PFAY-len zee. Empfehlen stress PFAY; pf cluster clear.
"What do you recommend?" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Was empfehlen Sie? | What do you recommend? Formal core. | Formal core. |
| Was empfiehlst du? | What do you recommend? (du) Friends. | Friends. |
| Was können Sie empfehlen? | What can you recommend? Softer. | Softer. |
| Ihre Empfehlung? | your recommendation? Short. | Short. |
How to use Was empfehlen Sie? in real life
- 1Fine dining
Wir sind neu hier — was empfehlen Sie?
We're new here — what do you recommend?
Full Sie phrase.
- 2Wine list
Zum Fisch: was empfehlen Sie an Weißwein?
With the fish: what do you recommend for white wine?
Specific.
- 3Bookstore
Für Anfänger Deutsch: was empfehlen Sie?
For German beginners: what do you recommend?
Shop.
Mistakes English speakers make with Was empfehlen Sie?
Incorrect: Was recommenden Sie?
Correct: Was empfehlen Sie?
Use empfehlen, not English recommend.
Incorrect: Was empfehlen du?
Correct: Was empfiehlst du? / Was empfehlen Sie?
Match conjugation to du or Sie.
Good to know
Asking Was empfehlen Sie? invites local knowledge and is welcome in restaurants. Staff often answer with today's special (Tagesgericht).
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Ordering at a neighborhood restaurant
ChatPal
Lust auf Fleisch oder vegetarisch?
In the mood for meat or vegetarian?
You
Ich frage: Was empfehlen Sie?
I'll ask: What do you recommend?
ChatPal
Gute Idee. Was empfehlen Sie als Vorspeise?
Good idea. What do you recommend as a starter?
You
Dann nehmen wir das.
Then we'll take that.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"What do you recommend?" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "What do you recommend?" in German
How do you ask for a recommendation?
Was empfehlen Sie?
With friends?
Was empfiehlst du?
Softer formal?
Was können Sie empfehlen?
Recommendation noun?
Die Empfehlung.
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
