German · Restaurant
You do not eat meat and ask if there is something vegetarian: what to say in German
You do not eat meat and ask whether there is something vegetarian.
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How it's done. Menus mark vegetarisch and vegan; ask directly: ohne Fleisch (without meat), ohne Fisch (without fish); watch out for stock and bacon (Speck) in dishes.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
YOU START
Haben Sie etwas Vegetarisches?
KHAH-bayn zee EH-tvuhs veh-geh-TAH-ree-shes?
Do you have something vegetarian?
Or say:Gibt es hier auch vegetarische Gerichte?
Geept es kheer owkh veh-geh-TAH-ree-sheh geh-REEKH-teh?
THEY SAY
Ja, wir haben Gemüselasagne und Käsespätzle.Yah, veer KHAH-bayn geh-MYOO-zeh-luh-suh-nyeh oont KEH-zesh-pets-leh.
Yes, we have vegetable lasagne and cheese spaetzle.
They might also say:
Natürlich. Es gibt Gemüselasagne oder Käsespätzle.
Nuh-TYOOR-leekh. Es geept geh-MYOO-zeh-luh-suh-nyeh OH-duh KEH-zesh-pets-leh.
Of course. There is vegetable lasagne or cheese spaetzle.
2
YOU REPLY
Ist die Lasagne ohne Fleisch? Ich esse kein Fleisch.
Eest dee luh-ZAH-nyeh OH-neh flighsh? Eekh EH-seh kighn flighsh.
Is the lasagne without meat? I don't eat meat.
THEY SAY
Ja, ohne Fleisch und ohne Fisch. Sie ist vegetarisch.Yah, OH-neh flighsh oont OH-neh feesh. Zee eest veh-geh-TAH-reesh.
Yes, without meat and without fish. It is vegetarian.
They might also say:
Ja, sie ist komplett vegetarisch.
Yah, zee eest kom-PLET veh-geh-TAH-reesh.
Yes, it is completely vegetarian.
3
YOU REPLY
Dann nehme ich die Lasagne, bitte.
Dahn NEH-meh eekh dee luh-ZAH-nyeh, BEE-teh.
Then I'll have the lasagne, please.
THEY SAY
Gern. Möchten Sie dazu einen Salat?Gehrn. MYOKH-tayn zee duh-TSOO IGH-nayn zuh-LAHT?
Gladly. Would you like a salad with it?
4
YOU FINISH
Ja, bitte. Danke!
Yah, BEE-teh. DAHN-keh!
Yes, please. Thank you!
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “German for life in Germany”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
Haben
KHAH-bayn
verb
to have
Vegetarisches
veh-geh-TAH-ree-shes
noun
something vegetarian
Ja
Yah
adverb
yes
Gemüselasagne
geh-MYOO-zeh-luh-suh-nyeh
noun
vegetable lasagne
Käsespätzle
KEH-zesh-pets-leh
noun
cheese spaetzle
Ist
Eest
verb
is
22 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh vee-dehr-KHOH-layn?
Can you repeat that, please?
Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen?
KYOH-nayn zee BEE-teh LAHNG-zuh-muh SHPREH-khayn?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Was bedeutet das?
Vahs beh-DOY-tet dahs?
What does this mean?
Similar situations
Your food arrives cold and you politely say soRestaurant · A2 in the app
→You walk into a restaurant without a reservation and ask if there is a tableRestaurant · A1 in the app
→The waiter takes your order: food and drinksRestaurant · A1 in the app
→You ask whether the dish contains what you are allergic toRestaurant · A2 in the app
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