Shopping and ordering food are essential daily life activities that involve specific vocabulary, phrases, and cultural norms. This lesson focuses on helping students communicate in a shop, market, or restaurant, including asking for prices, ordering food, and understanding menus.
Lesson Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Use common phrases for shopping and ordering food in German.
- Ask and answer questions about prices and quantities.
- Understand basic menu items and food-related vocabulary.
Lesson Content
1. Key Vocabulary
Shopping Vocabulary:
- Wie viel kostet das? – How much does that cost?
- Haben Sie ___? – Do you have ___?
- Ich möchte ___ kaufen. – I would like to buy ___.
- Das ist zu teuer. – That is too expensive.
- Gibt es ein Angebot? – Is there an offer/discount?
Common Items:
- das Brot – bread
- die Milch – milk
- das Obst – fruit
- das Gemüse – vegetables
- der Käse – cheese
- die Wurst – sausage
- das Wasser – water
- der Saft – juice
Ordering Food Vocabulary:
- Ich hätte gern ___. – I would like ___.
- Was empfehlen Sie? – What do you recommend?
- Die Speisekarte, bitte. – The menu, please.
- Ich nehme ___. – I’ll take ___.
- Ich bin vegetarisch. – I am vegetarian.
- Die Rechnung, bitte. – The bill, please.
Common Dishes and Beverages:
- die Suppe – soup
- das Steak – steak
- die Nudeln – pasta
- der Salat – salad
- das Bier – beer
- der Wein – wine
2. Useful Phrases for Shopping
Example Dialogue (at a supermarket):
- Verkäufer: Kann ich Ihnen helfen?
(Can I help you?) - Kunde: Ja, ich suche Brot und Käse. Wie viel kostet das Brot?
(Yes, I’m looking for bread and cheese. How much does the bread cost?) - Verkäufer: Das Brot kostet zwei Euro.
(The bread costs two euros.) - Kunde: Gut, ich nehme zwei.
(Good, I’ll take two.)
Practice Questions:
- Wie viel kostet die Milch?
- Haben Sie frisches Obst?
- Ist das im Angebot?
3. Useful Phrases for Ordering Food
Example Dialogue (at a restaurant):
- Kellner: Guten Abend! Möchten Sie etwas trinken?
(Good evening! Would you like something to drink?) - Gast: Ja, ich hätte gern ein Glas Wasser.
(Yes, I would like a glass of water.) - Kellner: Was möchten Sie essen?
(What would you like to eat?) - Gast: Ich nehme die Suppe und einen Salat.
(I’ll take the soup and a salad.) - Kellner: Sehr gut. Die Rechnung, bitte?
(Very good. The bill, please?) - Gast: Ja, danke.
(Yes, thank you.)
4. Asking for Quantities
Key Expressions:
- Wie viel? – How much?
- Wie viele? – How many?
- Ein Kilo / ein Pfund / ein Liter – A kilo / a pound / a liter
Example Questions:
- Wie viele Äpfel möchten Sie? – How many apples would you like?
- Ein Kilo Tomaten, bitte. – A kilo of tomatoes, please.
- Haben Sie ein halbes Brot? – Do you have half a loaf of bread?
5. Paying for Items
Common Phrases:
- Ich zahle bar. – I’ll pay in cash.
- Kann ich mit Karte zahlen? – Can I pay with a card?
- Stimmt so. – Keep the change.
- Können Sie das aufteilen? – Can you split the bill?
6. Exercises
A. Vocabulary Matching
Match the German word to its English translation:
- Brot
- Käse
- Milch
- Salat
- Wasser
B. Fill in the Blanks
Complete the dialogue:
- Kellner: Was möchten Sie essen?
- Gast: Ich hätte gern ___ Suppe.
- Kellner: Und etwas zu trinken?
- Gast: Ein Glas ___, bitte.
C. Translate Sentences
- I would like to buy apples and bread.
- How much does the milk cost?
- I’ll pay with a card.
D. Roleplay
In pairs, practice a conversation where one person is the customer, and the other is the shop assistant or waiter.
7. Cultural Notes
-
Politeness:
Always use polite forms (Sie, bitte) when speaking to shop assistants or waiters. For example, say Ich hätte gern… instead of Ich will…. -
Tipping in Germany:
It is customary to round up the bill when tipping, usually leaving 5-10% of the total. -
Cash Culture:
While credit and debit cards are accepted in many places, some small shops and restaurants prefer cash.
Lesson Summary
In this lesson, you learned the essential vocabulary and phrases needed for shopping and ordering food in German. Practice these skills to feel confident communicating in stores, markets, and restaurants.