How to Say What Foods Are Taboo in German Culture
Learn to discuss cultural food taboos in German, using phrases like 'Das isst man bei uns nicht' and understanding how they differ from religious dietary rules.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
In German-speaking countries, food taboos are often cultural rather than religious. For example, many Germans find eating horse meat or offal unusual, and combining certain foods (like pineapple on pizza) can spark debate. This lesson teaches you how to talk about such cultural food taboos in German, using appropriate phrases and understanding regional differences. You'll learn to express what is 'not done' (nicht üblich) or 'taboo' (tabu) in a polite, nuanced way.
By the end, you can…
- name at least three foods that are culturally taboo in German-speaking regions.
- use phrases like 'Das isst man bei uns nicht' to describe cultural food taboos.
- distinguish between religious dietary rules and cultural food taboos in German.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
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Das isst man bei uns nicht.
We don't eat that here.
dahs ist mahn by oons nikht
General phrase to indicate a cultural food taboo. Use 'bei uns' to mean 'in our culture/region'.
In Deutschland gilt Pferdefleisch als tabu.
In Germany, horse meat is considered taboo.
in doytsh-lahnt gilt pfer-de-flysh ahls tah-boo
Use 'gilt als tabu' to state that something is considered taboo. Replace 'Pferdefleisch' with other foods.
Innereien sind für viele Deutsche ungewöhnlich.
Offal is unusual for many Germans.
in-e-ry-en zint fewr fee-le doy-che oon-ge-vehn-lish
Use 'ungewöhnlich' to say something is unusual, a softer way to express a taboo.
Das ist hier nicht üblich.
That's not customary here.
dahs ist heer nikht ewp-lish
A polite way to say something is not common. Use 'hier' for 'here' or 'bei uns' for 'with us'.
Aus religiösen Gründen essen wir kein Schweinefleisch.
For religious reasons, we don't eat pork.
ows re-li-gyur-zen grewn-den es-en veer kine shvye-ne-flysh
Contrast with cultural taboos: 'aus religiösen Gründen' specifies religious rules.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To express that a food is taboo, use 'Das isst man bei uns nicht' or 'Das ist bei uns tabu'. For example: 'Pferdefleisch isst man bei uns nicht.' (We don't eat horse meat here.) To specify a region, say 'In Bayern isst man das nicht.' (In Bavaria, people don't eat that.) The verb 'essen' (to eat) is strong: 'man isst' means 'one eats' or 'people eat'. Use 'gilt als' to say 'is considered': 'Innereien gelten als ungewöhnlich.' (Offal is considered unusual.)
When to use it
Use these phrases when discussing cultural food taboos in a neutral or curious tone. For example, if someone offers you a food you find strange, you can say: 'Danke, aber das ist bei uns nicht üblich.' (Thanks, but that's not customary for us.) Avoid saying 'Das ist eklig' (That's disgusting), as it can offend. Instead, use 'ungewöhnlich' or 'nicht üblich'. When contrasting with religious rules, say: 'Aus religiösen Gründen' (for religious reasons) versus 'Aus kulturellen Gründen' (for cultural reasons).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Ich habe gehört, dass viele Deutsche kein Pferdefleisch essen. Stimmt das?
I heard that many Germans don't eat horse meat. Is that true?ikh hah-be ge-hyurt, dahs fee-le doy-che kine pfer-de-flysh es-en. shtimt dahs?Ja, das ist hier ziemlich tabu. Aber in manchen Regionen wird es gegessen.
Yes, that's pretty taboo here. But in some regions it is eaten.yah, dahs ist heer tseeem-lish tah-boo. ah-ber in mahn-shen re-gyoh-nen virt es ge-ges-en.Und wie ist es mit Innereien?
And what about offal?oont vee ist es mit in-e-ry-en?Die sind für viele auch ungewöhnlich, aber nicht komplett tabu. In Bayern gibt es zum Beispiel Leberkäse.
They are also unusual for many, but not completely taboo. In Bavaria, for example, there is Leberkäse.dee zint fewr fee-le owkh oon-ge-vehn-lish, ah-ber nikht kom-plet tah-boo. in by-ern gipt es tsoom bly-shpeel lay-ber-kay-ze.A little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, cultural food taboos are often regional and can be a sensitive topic. For instance, in Germany, horse meat is legally sold but rarely eaten, while in Switzerland and Austria, it's more accepted. Offal like liver and kidneys is used in traditional dishes like Leberknödelsuppe, so calling it 'taboo' might be inaccurate. Always use phrases like 'bei uns' or 'in meiner Region' to avoid generalizing. Also, note that religious taboos (e.g., halal, kosher) are distinct and should be referred to as 'religiöse Speisevorschriften'.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'Das ist verboten' (That is forbidden) for cultural food taboos.
Try this instead: 'Verboten' implies a legal or strict rule, but cultural taboos are usually not laws. Instead, say 'Das ist nicht üblich' or 'Das isst man bei uns nicht'. For example: 'Pferdefleisch ist nicht verboten, aber es ist nicht üblich.' (Horse meat is not forbidden, but it's not customary.)
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you say 'In Germany, offal is considered unusual' in German?
Show a sample answer
In Deutschland gelten Innereien als ungewöhnlich.
This uses 'gelten als' (are considered) and 'ungewöhnlich' (unusual). Alternatively, you could say 'In Deutschland sind Innereien ungewöhnlich.'
2What phrase would you use to politely decline a food that is taboo in your culture?
Show a sample answer
Danke, aber das ist bei uns nicht üblich.
This is polite and clear. You could also say 'Das isst man bei uns nicht.' Both are acceptable.
3How do you distinguish a religious dietary rule from a cultural taboo in German?
Show a sample answer
Use 'aus religiösen Gründen' for religious rules and 'aus kulturellen Gründen' or 'bei uns nicht üblich' for cultural taboos.
For example: 'Aus religiösen Gründen essen wir kein Schweinefleisch' vs. 'Pferdefleisch ist bei uns nicht üblich.'
Use 'Das isst man bei uns nicht' or 'Das ist nicht üblich' to talk about cultural food taboos politely. Remember that these are not legal prohibitions, and always specify the region or culture to avoid overgeneralizing.
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