How to Say 'I Am Vegetarian' in German and Explain What You Don't Eat
Learn to say you are vegetarian in German, name the foods you avoid, and answer politely when someone offers you meat or fish.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
If you want to tell someone in German that you are vegetarian, the key sentence is 'Ich bin Vegetarier' (if you are male) or 'Ich bin Vegetarierin' (if you are female). German marks this with a suffix, so the word changes with the speaker. In this lesson you will learn that sentence, the main foods a vegetarian typically avoids, and polite ways to refuse meat or fish when it is offered to you. You will also learn the verb 'essen' (to eat) in the forms you need most.
By the end, you can…
- say that I am vegetarian, choosing the correct form for a male or female speaker.
- name common foods I do not eat, such as meat, fish and poultry.
- politely refuse an offer of meat or fish and ask what is in a dish.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Ich bin Vegetarier.
I am vegetarian. (said by a male speaker)
ikh bin fay-gay-TAH-ree-er
Use this if you are male. The final -er is a weak syllable, not stressed.
Ich bin Vegetarierin.
I am vegetarian. (said by a female speaker)
ikh bin fay-gay-TAH-ree-er-in
Use this if you are female. The added -in marks the feminine form.
Ich esse kein Fleisch.
I don't eat meat.
ikh ES-uh kine flighsh
'kein' is the negative word used before neuter nouns like 'Fleisch'. It means 'no' or 'not any'.
Ich esse keinen Fisch.
I don't eat fish.
ikh ES-uh KINE-uhn fish
'Fisch' is masculine, so 'kein' adds -en: 'keinen Fisch'.
Was ist da drin?
What is in it?
vas ist dah drin
A short, natural way to ask about the ingredients of a dish before you order or accept it.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To say what you do not eat, use 'Ich esse kein/keine/keinen ...' plus the food. The form of 'kein' depends on the noun's gender: 'kein Fleisch' (neuter), 'keine Wurst' (feminine), 'keinen Fisch' (masculine). For plurals, use 'keine': 'Ich esse keine Eier.' This is the standard way to express 'I don't eat any ...' in German.
When to use it
Use 'Ich bin Vegetarier/Vegetarierin' when someone asks about your diet or when you need to explain your food choices. Use 'Ich esse kein ...' to be specific about foods you avoid. If you also avoid fish, say 'Ich esse keinen Fisch.' If you avoid all animal products, the word is 'vegan': 'Ich bin Veganer/Veganerin.' At a restaurant, 'Was ist da drin?' is a polite way to check ingredients before ordering.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Möchtest du ein Schnitzel?
Would you like a schnitzel?MURKH-tuhst doo ine SHNITS-uhlNein, danke. Ich bin Vegetarierin. Ich esse kein Fleisch.
No, thank you. I am vegetarian. I don't eat meat.nine DAN-kuh. ikh bin fay-gay-TAH-ree-er-in. ikh ES-uh kine flighshMöchtest du dann einen Salat mit Fisch?
Would you like a salad with fish then?MURKH-tuhst doo dan INE-uhn zah-LAHT mit fishIch esse auch keinen Fisch. Was ist da drin?
I don't eat fish either. What is in it?ikh ES-uh oukh KINE-uhn fish. vas ist dah drinA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, vegetarianism is common in cities, but traditional dishes often contain meat. The words 'Vegetarier' and 'Vegetarierin' are standard, while 'vegetarisch' is the adjective used for food: 'Ist das vegetarisch?' Regional menus may label dishes 'vegetarisch' or 'vegan'. When refusing food, a brief 'Nein, danke' plus your reason is considered polite and clear.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'Ich bin vegetarisch' to mean 'I am vegetarian'.
Try this instead: 'Vegetarisch' is an adjective describing food, not a person. To describe yourself, use the noun: 'Ich bin Vegetarier' (male) or 'Ich bin Vegetarierin' (female). Say 'Das Essen ist vegetarisch' for 'The food is vegetarian'.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would a female speaker say 'I am vegetarian' in German?
Show a sample answer
Ich bin Vegetarierin.
The feminine form adds -in to 'Vegetarier'. A male speaker would say 'Ich bin Vegetarier'. Both are correct depending on the speaker.
2Translate: 'I don't eat meat.'
Show a sample answer
Ich esse kein Fleisch.
'Fleisch' is neuter, so 'kein' is used without an ending. 'Ich esse kein Fleisch' is the standard phrase.
3How do you ask what is in a dish?
Show a sample answer
Was ist da drin?
This is a natural, informal way to ask about ingredients. A more formal alternative is 'Was ist darin enthalten?' but 'Was ist da drin?' is common in everyday speech.
Remember the two key sentences: 'Ich bin Vegetarier/Vegetarierin' and 'Ich esse kein/keinen ...'. Use the correct form of 'kein' for the food's gender, and 'Was ist da drin?' to check ingredients politely.
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