How to Compliment a Host in German: Food and Hospitality
Learn beginner German phrases to thank a host and praise their cooking or hospitality, with pronunciation, register notes, and a short dialogue.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
When you are invited to a German-speaking home, a short, sincere compliment goes a long way. This lesson teaches you beginner-friendly phrases such as Das ist lecker (This is delicious) and Danke für die Einladung (Thank you for the invitation). You will learn how to praise the food, thank your host for having you, and respond politely if you are the host. Focus on complete, usable sentences and on choosing the right level of formality.
By the end, you can…
- compliment a host's food using simple German phrases.
- thank a host for an invitation and for having me.
- respond politely when someone compliments my cooking or hospitality.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Das ist sehr lecker.
This is very delicious.
dahs ist zair LEK-er
Use lecker for food you are eating; it is common and friendly in everyday German.
Das schmeckt mir gut.
I like the taste of this. / This tastes good to me.
dahs shmekt meer goot
The verb schmecken works with the dative mir; this is a natural way to say you enjoy the food.
Vielen Dank für die Einladung.
Many thanks for the invitation.
FEE-len dahnk fuer dee INE-lah-doong
A polite, standard thank-you for being invited; suitable with both du and Sie.
Danke, dass ich kommen durfte.
Thank you for having me. / Thank you that I was allowed to come.
DAHN-keh, dahs ish KOM-en DOORF-teh
Warm and slightly formal; durfte is the past form of dürfen and shows appreciation for the invitation.
Es war sehr schön bei Ihnen.
It was very nice at your place.
es vahr zair shurn bye EE-nen
Use bei Ihnen with a host you address as Sie; with a friend, say bei dir (bye deer).
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
A simple compliment can follow the pattern Das ist + adjective, for example Das ist lecker (This is delicious), Das ist köstlich (This is exquisite), or Das ist sehr gut (This is very good). To say you like the taste, use Das schmeckt mir gut or Die Suppe schmeckt mir. The dative mir is required with schmecken. For hospitality, use Danke für die Einladung or Danke, dass ich kommen durfte. Keep compliments short and specific: Das Essen ist wirklich lecker.
When to use it
Use lecker for everyday food and casual meals; it is friendly but not slang. Köstlich is more formal or emphatic and can sound a little elegant. If you are addressing an older host or someone you do not know well, use the Sie forms: Danke für die Einladung and Es war sehr schön bei Ihnen. With friends, family, or younger hosts, use du forms: Danke für die Einladung and Es war schön bei dir. In Austria and parts of southern Germany, you may hear gut or hervorragend instead of lecker, but lecker is widely understood.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Das Essen ist wirklich lecker. Vielen Dank für die Einladung!
The food is really delicious. Many thanks for the invitation!dahs ES-en ist VEERK-lish LEK-er. FEE-len dahnk fuer dee INE-lah-doongDas freut mich sehr. Möchtest du noch etwas?
I am very glad. Would you like some more?dahs froyt mish zair. MURSH-test doo nokh ET-vahsDanke, es war sehr schön bei Ihnen.
Thank you, it was very nice at your place.DAHN-keh, es vahr zair shurn bye EE-nenEs hat mich gefreut, dass du da warst.
I was glad that you were here.es haht mish geh-FROYT, dahs doo dah vahrstA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, compliments are often brief and factual rather than effusive. Saying Das ist lecker or Das schmeckt mir gut is enough. If you are the host, a simple Danke, das freut mich is a natural response. Use Sie with people you do not know well and du with friends, family, and younger people; when unsure, wait for the host to offer du.
One thing to watch for
Saying Ich mag das Essen sehr as a direct translation of I really like the food.
Try this instead: This sentence is grammatically correct, but it can sound like a general preference rather than a compliment to the host. For a compliment at the table, say Das Essen ist sehr lecker or Das schmeckt mir gut. Use Ich mag das Essen for a general statement, not as a thank-you.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say This is very delicious in German?
Show a sample answer
Das ist sehr lecker.
This follows the pattern Das ist + adjective. Das ist köstlich is also correct but more formal or emphatic.
2You are thanking an older host you address with Sie for having you. Which sentence fits?
Show a sample answer
Danke, dass ich kommen durfte.
This uses the polite form and expresses appreciation for the invitation. Danke für die Einladung is also correct but does not include the idea of having been allowed to come.
3Your host asks if you want more. Give a polite refusal and a compliment.
Show a sample answer
Danke, ich bin satt. Das Essen war sehr lecker.
Danke, ich bin satt politely says you are full, and the compliment ends the meal warmly. Danke, es war köstlich is a valid alternative.
Keep compliments short and sincere: Das ist lecker, Das schmeckt mir gut, and Danke für die Einladung. Match du or Sie to your host, and add Es war schön bei Ihnen or bei dir when you leave.
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