英文讲解初级德语-10 hints for dining in Germany

Informal German

#2 Hi Lena! Schön dich zu sehen!

#1 Hallo Michael!

#2 Wo möchtest du sitzen?

#1 Hier ist gut.

#2 Okay, lass uns hier sitzen!

...

#3 Willkommen im Café Antabli. Was möchten Sie trinken?

#1 Haben Sie ‘Tequila Sunrise’?

#3 Nein, es tut mir leid.

#1 Dann möchte ich bitte die Karte sehen.

#3 Sofort. ... Hier ist die Karte.

#1 Danke.

...

#2 Ich hätte gern einen ‘Cocktail Hawaii’.

#3 Gerne.

#1 Und ich eine Apfelschorle.

#3 Kommt sofort.

Informal English

#2 Hi Lena! Nice to see you!

#1 Hello Michael!

#2 Where would you like to sit?

#1 Here is good.

#2 Okay, let’s sit here!

...

#3 Welcome to the café Antabli. What would you like to drink?

#1 Do you have ‘Tequila Sunrise’?

#3 No, I’m sorry.

#1 Then I’d like to see the menu please.

#3 One moment. ... Here’s the menu.

#1 Thanks.

...

#2 I would like a ‘Cocktail Hawaii’.

#3 With pleasure.

#1 And I [would like] a Apfelschorle (apple juice with mineral water).

Vocabulary Sample Sentences

Ich trinke immer Kaffee, wenn ich arbeite. I always drink coffee when I work.

Ich trinke kein Bier. I don’t drink any beer.

Ich esse gerne Brötchen. I like eating rolls.

Ich trinke gerne Milch mit Honig. I like drinking milk with honey.

Dieses Kleid hat die richtige Größe, aber es sitzt nicht gut.

This dress is in the right size, but it doesn't drape well.

Wo möchtest du sitzen? Where would you like to sit?

Willkommen in Deutschland! Welcome to Germany!

Kontrolleur: Ihr Fahrkarten bitte! Controller: Your tickets please!

Kann ich bitte die Karte sehen? Can I see the menu please?

Kommt sofort. Come up immediately.

Ich hätte gern ein Bier. I would like a beer. 

　　Grammar Points

       In this lesson, you have encountered another really useful phrase for when you're eating at a restaurantor shopping: "ich hätte gern", meaning "I would like". It literally means "I would have gladly", and the"h?tte" part of it follows the same pattern as "m?chte" or "k?nnte": ich h?tte, du h?ttest, Sie h?tten.

　　Note however that the only common form is "ich h?tte gern". Use this form to request something froma waiter or salesperson.

　　When you're not sure that the restaurant/shop has what you want, ask them "Haben Sie ...?" (Do youhave ...?). This is another very practical use for the verb haben.

　　In the dialog you encountered one new grammatical form: the third person singular, used for theequivalent of "he / she / it". Verbs take the -t ending for this form, for example "(es) komm-t sofort"(coming up right away). Other examples:

　　Er wohnt hier. - He lives here.

　　Sie studiert Medizin. - She studies medicine.

　　Lena kennt Michael. - Lena knows Michael.

　　Note that "haben", being irregular, changes to "hat" instead of the "habet" you might expect. "m?chte","k?nnte" and "h?tte" don't change at all.

　　Cultural Insight

Here are ten hints for eating at a restaurant in Germany.

　　1. In very fine restaurants you may have to wait to be seated, but anywhere else you may be waiting alooonng time, because you're expect to just seat yourself.

　　2. You won't get free water or refills, plus it's hard to get non-carbonated water. At least inmiddle-class restaurants you will get free bread before the meal however.

　　3. Do try some German food! There is a lot of variety in Germany, and lots of specialties.

　　4. People eat healthy here. Most menu items will involve a generous amount of vegetables and fewwill involve fries (except kids’ meals and Imbiss food).

　　5. Eat with fork in left hand and knife in right hand.

　　6. Avoid making noises during or after eating, that's a big no-no.

　　7. Try to clean your plate or don't make a mess in the first place. If you have the chance to put food onyour plate yourself, e. g. at a buffet or at somebody’s home, be sure not to put more than you can eat.

　　8. When paying, give the money directly to the waiter, don’t leave money on table… go up to front topay if necessary or also if you’re paying for a party.

　　9. The tip is lower than in the states, because service is usually included in the bill already and waiters get decent wages. Also, VAT is included in any prices you see, even if the bill has to list VATseparately as well.

　　10. You may not be able to pay by credit card. If you have to depend on paying by credit card, look forcredit card symbols before you enter the restaurants.