German for Beginners: Asking 'How do you cook ___?' and Understanding Simple Answers
Learn to ask how to cook a specific dish in German and understand simple instructions using the informal du form, with key verbs and question patterns.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you want to learn how to cook a dish from a German speaker, you need a polite but direct way to ask for guidance. In this lesson, you will learn the question 'Wie kochst du ___?' (How do you cook ___?) and how to understand simple answers that use the informal 'du' form. You will also learn to recognize common cooking verbs like 'kochen' (to cook), 'braten' (to fry), and 'schneiden' (to cut), and how they change when someone gives you instructions. By the end, you will be able to ask for a recipe or method and follow basic steps in German.
By the end, you can…
- ask 'How do you cook ___?' using the correct verb form.
- understand simple answers that describe cooking steps.
- recognize common cooking verbs in the du-form.
- ask for repetition or clarification if I don't understand.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Wie kochst du ___?
How do you cook ___?
vee KOKHST doo
Use with the informal 'du' when speaking to a friend or someone you know well. Fill the blank with the dish, e.g., 'Wie kochst du Kartoffeln?'
Wie machst du ___?
How do you make ___?
vee MAKHST doo
A more general alternative to 'kochst', used for any kind of preparation, not just cooking on a stove.
Zuerst schneidest du die Zwiebeln.
First you cut the onions.
TSOO-airst SHNY-dest doo dee TSVEE-beln
A typical first step in a recipe. 'Zuerst' means 'first'. The verb 'schneiden' becomes 'schneidest' with 'du'.
Dann brätst du das Fleisch.
Then you fry the meat.
dahn BRAITST doo dahs FLYSH
'Dann' means 'then'. 'Braten' becomes 'brätst' with 'du' (stem change a → ä).
Wie bitte? Kannst du das wiederholen?
Pardon? Can you repeat that?
vee BIT-tuh? KAHNST doo dahs vee-der-HOH-len?
Use this when you didn't understand. 'Wie bitte?' is a polite way to ask for repetition.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask how to cook something, use: 'Wie kochst du ___?' The verb 'kochen' (to cook) takes the ending -st with 'du': du kochst. For other actions, replace 'kochst' with the appropriate verb: 'Wie schneidest du ___?' (How do you cut ___?), 'Wie brätst du ___?' (How do you fry ___?). Note that some verbs change their stem vowel: 'braten' → 'du brätst'. The answer often starts with 'Zuerst' (first), 'Dann' (then), or 'Danach' (after that), followed by the verb and 'du': 'Zuerst schneidest du...'
When to use it
Use 'Wie kochst du ___?' with friends, family, or people you address as 'du'. If you need to be formal, use 'Wie kochen Sie ___?' with the same verb but the polite 'Sie' form. For example: 'Wie kochen Sie Kartoffelsuppe?' The polite 'Sie' form is standard everywhere in the German-speaking world, and 'du' is used in casual settings throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. When you don't understand an answer, say 'Wie bitte?' or 'Kannst du das wiederholen?'
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Wie kochst du eigentlich Kartoffelsuppe?
How do you actually cook potato soup?vee KOKHST doo AY-gent-likh kar-TOF-fel-zup-pe?Zuerst schneidest du die Zwiebeln und die Kartoffeln.
First you cut the onions and the potatoes.TSOO-airst SHNY-dest doo dee TSVEE-beln oont dee kar-TOF-felnUnd dann?
And then?oont dahn?Dann brätst du alles in Butter an und gibst Wasser dazu.
Then you fry everything in butter and add water.dahn BRAITST doo AH-les in BOO-ter ahn oont GEEPST VAS-ser dah-TSOOA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, asking for a recipe is common among friends and family. The informal 'du' is standard in casual settings, but use 'Sie' with strangers, older people, or in formal contexts. Regional vocabulary varies: in Austria, potatoes are often called 'Erdäpfel', while in Germany you will usually hear 'Kartoffeln'. Always use 'Wie bitte?' if you need repetition; it's polite and widely understood.
One thing to watch for
Using 'Wie kochst du?' with a formal 'Sie' context, e.g., asking a stranger 'Wie kochst du?' instead of 'Wie kochen Sie?'
Try this instead: With strangers or in formal situations, use 'Wie kochen Sie ___?' For example: 'Wie kochen Sie Kartoffelsuppe?' The verb ending changes to -en with 'Sie'.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'How do you cook noodles?' informally?
Show a sample answer
Wie kochst du Nudeln?
This uses the du-form 'kochst' and the plural noun 'Nudeln'. You could also say 'Wie machst du Nudeln?' which is equally correct.
2What does 'Zuerst schneidest du die Zwiebeln' mean?
Show a sample answer
First you cut the onions.
'Zuerst' means 'first', 'schneidest' is the du-form of 'schneiden', and 'die Zwiebeln' means 'the onions'. Another valid translation could be 'First, you cut the onions.'
3How do you politely ask someone to repeat if you didn't understand?
Show a sample answer
Wie bitte? Kannst du das wiederholen?
'Wie bitte?' is a polite way to ask for repetition, and 'Kannst du das wiederholen?' means 'Can you repeat that?' You could also say 'Kannst du das noch einmal sagen?'
To ask how to cook something in German, use 'Wie kochst du ___?' with friends, or 'Wie kochen Sie ___?' formally. Listen for 'Zuerst', 'Dann', and verbs ending in -st to follow simple instructions.
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