Learn German Food and Drink Words: 149 Flashcards from Bratwurst to Apfelschorle

Germany's menu is regional, and much of it is about sausage. Deck OT2796 "German Food & Drinks" has 149 English→German cards, from Wurst to Kakao. Here is how to learn them so you can order at a Biergarten, a bakery or a Christmas market without pointing.

What's in the deck

The cards come in themed runs, which is useful because you can learn one run per session:

• Sausages and roasts: Wurst, Bratwurst, Weißwurst, Currywurst, Blutwurst, Leberwurst, Knackwurst, Sauerbraten, Eisbein, Schäufele
• Side dishes: Maultaschen, Spätzle, Kartoffelknödel, Semmelknödel, Reibekuchen, Bratkartoffeln, Salzkartoffeln, Rotkohl, Grünkohl, weißer Spargel
• Cakes and Christmas baking: Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, Apfelstrudel, Rote Grütze, Käsekuchen, Lebkuchen, Christstollen, Spekulatius, Zimtsterne, Vanillekipferl
• Bread and meals: Brezel, Roggenbrot, Vollkornbrot, Pumpernickel, Brötchen, Frühstück, Abendbrot, Brotzeit, Kaffee und Kuchen
• The fridge and the pantry: Aufschnitt, Schinken, Speck, Quark, Frischkäse, Senf, Meerrettich, Essig, Mehl
• Drinks: Pils, Weißbier, Schwarzbier, Kölsch, Radler, Riesling, Glühwein, Sekt, Korn, Obstler, Kirschwasser, Apfelschorle, Spezi, Sprudel

Sample cards

Tip 1: add the article, because the deck doesn't

None of the 149 backs has der, die or das, and you need the gender to order: ein Brötchen, eine Brezel, einen Kaffee. Edit the backs as you go (die Wurst, der Knödel, das Bier, die Sahne). One shortcut: in German compounds the last noun decides the gender. Die Wurst makes die Bratwurst, Currywurst and Leberwurst. Das Brot makes das Roggenbrot, Vollkornbrot and Abendbrot. Der Saft makes der Apfelsaft. With that rule, one card gives you the gender of a whole run. For the full rules, see our German articles and genders guide.

Tip 2: learn where each word is used

Many of these words only work in part of Germany:

• Pfannkuchen (card 38, "pancake") means a jam doughnut in Berlin, where the deck's Berliner (card 37) is called Pfannkuchen. In the south it is a Krapfen.
• Brotzeit (card 59) is Bavarian. Abendbrot (card 58) is northern.
• Sprudel (card 139) is southwestern. If you want sparkling water, Mineralwasser mit Kohlensäure is understood everywhere.
• Altbier (card 123, "ale") is Düsseldorf's beer and Kölsch (card 124) is Cologne's. Ordering the wrong one in the wrong city is a classic joke.
• Salat (card 106) means both lettuce and salad. Read Kartoffelsalat and grüner Salat side by side to see the difference.

Add the city or region to the hint field of these cards, so you know where each word is used.

How to study it

Do one theme a day for six days. Then shuffle the whole deck and review it in the German→English direction too, because menus give you the German word first. Say the compound words out loud (Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, Kartoffelknödel). Then you will recognise them when a waiter says them quickly.

For the phrases you need around the food (Die Rechnung, bitte, Zum Mitnehmen), use our German Travel & Daily Life study guide.

To start, open Flip It and search for deck code OT2796.