German · Restaurant
The waiter takes your order: food and drinks: what to say in German
The waiter takes your order: food and drinks.
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How it's done. Water is not free in German restaurants; they ask still (still) or mit Kohlensäure (sparkling).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
THEY SPEAK FIRST
THEY SAY
Haben Sie schon gewählt?KHAH-bayn zee shohn geh-VELT?
Have you chosen yet?
They might also say:
Wissen Sie schon, was Sie möchten?
VEE-sayn zee shohn, vahs zee MYOKH-tayn?
Do you know what you'd like?
YOU REPLY
Ja, ich nehme das Schnitzel mit Pommes.
Yah, eekh NEH-meh dahs SHNEE-tsel meet POH-mes.
Yes, I'll have the schnitzel with chips.
Or say:Ja, ich hätte gern die Suppe.
Yah, eekh KHEH-teh gehrn dee ZOO-peh.
THEY SAY
Gern. Und was möchten Sie trinken?Gehrn. Oont vahs MYOKH-tayn zee TREEN-kayn?
Gladly. And what would you like to drink?
2
YOU REPLY
Ein Wasser, bitte.
Ighn VAH-suh, BEE-teh.
A water, please.
THEY SAY
Still oder mit Kohlensäure?Shteel OH-duh meet KOH-layn-zoy-reh?
Still or sparkling?
3
YOU REPLY
Still, bitte.
Shteel, BEE-teh.
Still, please.
THEY SAY
Kommt sofort. Guten Appetit!Komt zoh-FORT. GOO-tayn uh-peh-TEET!
Coming right up. Enjoy your meal!
They might also say:
Sehr gern. Das dauert einen Moment.
Zehr gehrn. Dahs DOW-ehrt IGH-nayn moh-MAYNT.
Gladly. It will take a moment.
4
YOU FINISH
Danke schön!
DAHN-keh shyohn!
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
schon
shohn
adverb
already
gewählt
geh-VELT
verb
chosen
Ja
Yah
adverb
yes
nehme
NEH-meh
verb
I take
Schnitzel
SHNEE-tsel
noun
schnitzel
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
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