German · Schulalltag
You ask about lunch at school: what to say in German
You ask about lunch at school.
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How it's done. School lunch often must be ordered and paid for in advance (online or through the school system); you can apply for a discount or help from the Teilhabepaket.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
Gibt es in der Schule ein Mittagessen?
Geept es een dehr SHOO-leh ighn MEE-tuh-keh-sayn?
Is there lunch at school?
Or say:Kann mein Sohn in der Schule zu Mittag essen?
Kahn mighn zohn een dehr SHOO-leh tsoo MEE-tuhk EH-sayn?
THEY SAY
Ja, es gibt eine Mensa. Sie müssen das Essen vorher anmelden.Yah, es geept IGH-neh MAYN-zuh. Zee MYOO-sayn dahs EH-sayn for-KHEHR AHN-mel-dayn.
Yes, there is a canteen. You have to register the meals in advance.
They might also say:
Ja, wir haben ein Mittagessen. Die Anmeldung geht online.
Yah, veer KHAH-bayn ighn MEE-tuh-keh-sayn. Dee AHN-mel-doong get OHN-lighn.
Yes, we have lunch. Registration is online.
2
YOU REPLY
Und wie bezahle ich es?
Oont vee beh-TSAH-leh eekh es?
And how do I pay for it?
THEY SAY
Das läuft per Überweisung oder über die Schul-App.Dahs loyft pehr yoo-behr-VIGH-zoong OH-duh YOO-buh dee shool-ep.
That goes by transfer or through the school app.
3
YOU FINISH
Danke für die Auskunft!
DAHN-keh fyoor dee OWS-koonft!
Thanks for the information!
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
Gibt
Geept
verb
gives
Schule
SHOO-leh
noun
school
Mittagessen
MEE-tuh-keh-sayn
noun
lunch
Ja
Yah
adverb
yes
Mensa
MAYN-zuh
noun
canteen
müssen
MYOO-sayn
verb
to have to
24 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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→You ask how your child can get to schoolSchulalltag · A2 in the app
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