German · Food & Drink
"Wine" in German: Wein
der Wein
Wine in German is der Wein, a masculine noun. Specify Rotwein or Weißwein when you order. A glass is ein Glas Wein, and regions like the Rhine and Mosel are famous for it.
In a restaurant
Ein Glas Rotwein, bitte.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce Wein
Say it
vine
/vaɪ̯n/
Vine, almost like English "vine". The W is a v sound. The ei is the "eye" diphthong. One clear syllable.
"Wine" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| der Wein | wine Wine in general. | Wine in general. |
| der Rotwein | red wine Common order in restaurants. | Common order in restaurants. |
| der Weißwein | white wine Spelled with ß: Weißwein. | Spelled with ß: Weißwein. |
| ein Glas Wein | a glass of wine How you order by the glass. | How you order by the glass. |
| der Sekt | sparkling wine German sparkling wine for celebrations. | German sparkling wine for celebrations. |
How to use Wein in real life
- 1In a restaurant
Ein Glas Rotwein, bitte.
A glass of red wine, please.
Short orders like this are normal and polite.
- 2At a picnic
Soll ich Wein oder Wasser mitbringen?
Should I bring wine or water?
No article needed when speaking of wine in general.
- 3Choosing a bottle
Welchen Wein empfiehlst du zu dem Fisch?
Which wine do you recommend with the fish?
Welchen agrees with masculine Wein.
Mistakes English speakers make with Wein
Incorrect: das Wein
Correct: der Wein
Wein is masculine. Accusative: den Wein / einen Wein.
Incorrect: Weisswein
Correct: Weißwein
Use ß in standard German spelling: Weißwein. Weiss appears mainly in Swiss German orthography.
Good to know
Germany is a major white-wine country, especially Riesling from the Mosel, Rheingau, and Pfalz. People often drink Wein with meals rather than as a cocktail substitute, and a simple Schorle mixes wine with sparkling water on warm days.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing drinks before dinner
ChatPal
Trinkst du Wein zum Essen?
Do you drink wine with the meal?
You
Ja, am liebsten Weißwein.
Yes, preferably white wine.
ChatPal
Gut, dann nehme ich auch Wein.
Good, then I'll have wine too.
You
Ein trockener Wein wäre toll.
A dry wine would be great.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Wine" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Wine" in German
How do you say red and white wine?
Rotwein and Weißwein. Order ein Glas Rotwein or eine Flasche Weißwein.
Is Wein masculine?
Yes: der Wein. That is why you say welchen Wein and einen Wein.
What is Weinschorle?
Wine mixed with sparkling water. It is a light, common summer drink, especially with white wine.
Does Wein only mean alcoholic wine?
Usually yes. Fruit "wines" get a compound name, like Apfelwein in Hesse.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
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- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
