German for Cooking: Say What You Need for a Simple Dish
Learn to list ingredients for a simple German dish using 'Zuerst brauche ich ...' and related phrases. Perfect for elementary learners who want to talk about recipe preparation.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you're preparing a simple dish, you need to say what ingredients you need. In German, the phrase 'Zuerst brauche ich ...' (First, I need ...) is your starting point. This lesson teaches you to list ingredients for a basic recipe, using the accusative case after 'brauchen'. You'll learn to say what you need, ask others what they need, and understand common responses. We'll focus on a simple dish like pancakes (Pfannkuchen) to keep vocabulary practical. By the end, you'll be able to talk about ingredients for many simple dishes.
By the end, you can…
- say what ingredients I need for a simple dish using 'Zuerst brauche ich ...'.
- ask someone what they need for a recipe.
- understand and respond to questions about ingredients.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Zuerst brauche ich Mehl.
First, I need flour.
TSOO-airst BROW-khuh ikh mayl
Use 'Zuerst' to start a sequence. 'Brauche' is the first-person singular form of 'brauchen' (to need). 'Mehl' is neuter; here it is used without an article because it refers to an indefinite amount.
Dann brauche ich Eier.
Then I need eggs.
dahn BROW-khuh ikh AY-er
'Dann' means 'then' and continues the sequence. 'Eier' is the plural of 'Ei' (egg). No article is used for an indefinite number.
Danach brauche ich Milch.
After that, I need milk.
dah-NAHKH BROW-khuh ikh milkh
'Danach' means 'after that'. 'Milch' is feminine; here it is used without an article because it refers to an indefinite amount.
Was brauchst du?
What do you need?
vahs BROWKHST doo
This is the informal singular 'you' (du). Use it with friends, family, or children. The verb 'brauchst' is the second-person singular form.
Ich brauche noch Zucker.
I also need sugar.
ikh BROW-khuh nokh TSOO-ker
'Noch' here means 'additionally' or 'also', indicating one more item. 'Zucker' is masculine; here it is used without an article because it refers to an indefinite amount.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is: [Time word] + brauche ich + [ingredient]. Time words like 'Zuerst', 'Dann' and 'Danach' help sequence your steps. For example: 'Zuerst brauche ich Mehl. Dann brauche ich Eier.' You can also omit the time word: 'Ich brauche Milch.' The verb 'brauchen' takes the accusative case. For masculine nouns, the definite article changes from 'der' to 'den': 'Ich brauche den Zucker' (if you mean a specific sugar). But for indefinite amounts, no article is used: 'Ich brauche Zucker.'
When to use it
Use these phrases when you're cooking or baking and need to list ingredients. For example, if you're making pancakes, you might say: 'Zuerst brauche ich Mehl, dann Milch und Eier.' You can also use them when shopping for a specific recipe: 'Für den Kuchen brauche ich Butter und Zucker.' When asking someone else, use 'Was brauchst du?' for informal situations or 'Was brauchen Sie?' for formal. Respond with 'Ich brauche ...' or 'Wir brauchen ...' if you're cooking together.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Was brauchst du für den Pfannkuchen?
What do you need for the pancake?vahs BROWKHST doo fewr dayn PFAN-koo-khenZuerst brauche ich Mehl. Dann brauche ich Milch und Eier.
First, I need flour. Then I need milk and eggs.TSOO-airst BROW-khuh ikh mayl. dahn BROW-khuh ikh milkh oont AY-erBrauchst du auch Zucker?
Do you also need sugar?BROWKHST doo owkh TSOO-kerJa, ich brauche noch etwas Zucker.
Yes, I also need some sugar.yah, ikh BROW-khuh nokh ET-vahs TSOO-kerA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, recipes often list ingredients in the order they are used, and it's common to say 'Man braucht ...' (one needs ...) when giving general instructions. When cooking with others, using 'du' is typical among friends and family, while 'Sie' is used in formal settings or with strangers. Regional differences exist: in Austria, 'Topfen' is the usual word for what is called 'Quark' in Germany, and in Switzerland 'Rahm' is common where Germany uses 'Sahne'. Always check local terms if you're cooking abroad.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'Ich brauche ein Mehl' or 'Ich brauche eine Milch' by adding an indefinite article.
Try this instead: In German, you generally don't use 'ein/eine' for unspecified amounts of ingredients. Say 'Ich brauche Mehl' or 'Ich brauche Milch'. Use articles only when referring to a specific unit: 'Ich brauche ein Ei' (one egg) or 'Ich brauche eine Packung Mehl' (a packet of flour).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'First, I need eggs' in German?
Show a sample answer
Zuerst brauche ich Eier.
'Zuerst' means 'first', 'brauche ich' is 'I need', and 'Eier' is the plural of 'Ei'. This is a direct translation and works for listing ingredients.
2What is the informal way to ask 'What do you need?' in German?
Show a sample answer
Was brauchst du?
'Was' means 'what', 'brauchst' is the second-person singular of 'brauchen', and 'du' is informal 'you'. For formal, use 'Was brauchen Sie?'
3Translate: 'Then I need milk and sugar.'
Show a sample answer
Dann brauche ich Milch und Zucker.
'Dann' means 'then', 'brauche ich' is 'I need', 'Milch' is milk, 'und' is and, 'Zucker' is sugar. No articles are needed for indefinite amounts.
Use 'Zuerst brauche ich ...' to start listing ingredients, and continue with 'Dann brauche ich ...' or 'Danach brauche ich ...'. Remember to omit articles for indefinite amounts. Practice with your favorite simple recipe!
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s German into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr