German for Beginners: Say 'I Like' and 'I Don't Like' with Foods
Learn to express food preferences in German using 'gern' and 'nicht gern', with common food words and practical examples.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
In this lesson, you'll learn how to say what foods you like and don't like in German. Unlike describing taste (sour, sweet), this is about personal preference. The key is the word 'gern', which means 'gladly' or 'like to'. You'll use it with the verb 'essen' (to eat) and 'trinken' (to drink). We'll practice with common foods and drinks, and you'll see how to make negative statements. By the end, you'll be able to talk about your food preferences in simple German.
By the end, you can…
- say that I like or don't like a specific food or drink.
- ask someone if they like a particular food.
- understand simple statements about food preferences.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Ich esse gern Pizza.
I like eating pizza.
ikh ES-uh gern PITS-ah
Use 'gern' after the verb to express liking an activity. Here, 'esse' is the 'ich' form of 'essen'.
Ich trinke gern Kaffee.
I like drinking coffee.
ikh TRIN-kuh gern KAH-feh
For drinks, use 'trinken' instead of 'essen'. 'Kaffee' is masculine, but no article is needed when speaking generally.
Ich esse nicht gern Fisch.
I don't like eating fish.
ikh ES-uh nikht gern fish
To make it negative, put 'nicht' before 'gern'. This means you don't like it, not that you never eat it.
Magst du Schokolade?
Do you like chocolate?
mahkst doo shoh-koh-LAH-duh
The verb 'mögen' (to like) is often used for things. 'Magst' is the 'du' form. This is a common alternative to 'Isst du gern Schokolade?'
Ja, ich mag Schokolade sehr.
Yes, I like chocolate a lot.
yah, ikh mahk shoh-koh-LAH-duh zair
You can add 'sehr' to say 'very much'. 'Mag' is the 'ich' form of 'mögen'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The most common way to express liking an activity is to use the verb + 'gern'. For example: 'Ich esse gern Brot' (I like eating bread). 'Ich trinke gern Tee' (I like drinking tea). To negate, put 'nicht' before 'gern': 'Ich esse nicht gern Fleisch' (I don't like eating meat). For liking things (not activities), use 'mögen': 'Ich mag Katzen' (I like cats). But for foods, both patterns work: 'Ich mag Pizza' or 'Ich esse gern Pizza'. The 'gern' pattern emphasizes the activity of eating, while 'mögen' focuses on the item itself.
When to use it
Use 'gern' when you want to say you enjoy doing something. It's very common with 'essen' and 'trinken'. For example, at a restaurant, you might say 'Ich esse gern hier' (I like eating here). Use 'mögen' when you want to express a liking for a specific thing, like 'Ich mag diesen Kuchen' (I like this cake). In questions, 'Magst du...?' is very common. For example, 'Magst du Käse?' (Do you like cheese?). If you want to ask about an activity, use 'Isst du gern...?' (Do you like eating...?). Both are correct, but 'Magst du...?' is more direct about the food itself.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Magst du Pizza?
Do you like pizza?mahkst doo PITS-ahJa, ich mag Pizza sehr. Und du?
Yes, I like pizza a lot. And you?yah, ikh mahk PITS-ah zair. unt dooIch esse nicht gern Pizza. Aber ich esse gern Pasta.
I don't like eating pizza. But I like eating pasta.ikh ES-uh nikht gern PITS-ah. AH-ber ikh ES-uh gern PAHS-tahVerstehe. Trinkst du gern Kaffee?
I see. Do you like drinking coffee?fair-SHTAY-uh. TRINKST doo gern KAH-fehA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, it's common to express preferences directly. Saying 'Ich esse nicht gern...' is not rude; it's a straightforward statement. When invited to someone's home, it's polite to accept what is offered, but you can politely decline by saying 'Danke, ich esse nicht gern...' or 'Ich mag ... nicht so gern.' In Austria and Switzerland, 'gern' is used similarly, but you might hear 'gern' pronounced slightly differently. In Swiss German, 'gern' is often 'gärn'. However, standard German is understood everywhere.
One thing to watch for
Using 'Ich mag nicht Pizza' to mean 'I don't like pizza'.
Try this instead: In German, 'nicht' cannot come directly before a noun here. You can put 'nicht' after the noun: 'Ich mag Pizza nicht', or use 'kein/keine' before the noun: 'Ich mag keine Pizza'. But 'Ich mag nicht Pizza' is wrong. The correct ways are 'Ich mag Pizza nicht' or 'Ich esse nicht gern Pizza'. For example: 'Ich mag keinen Fisch' (I don't like fish).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I like drinking tea' in German?
Show a sample answer
Ich trinke gern Tee.
This uses 'trinke' (I drink) + 'gern' to express liking the activity. Alternatively, you could say 'Ich mag Tee' (I like tea), which focuses on the drink itself.
2Translate: 'Do you like eating vegetables?'
Show a sample answer
Isst du gern Gemüse?
This uses 'isst' (you eat) + 'gern' to ask about liking the activity. You could also ask 'Magst du Gemüse?' (Do you like vegetables?), which is also correct.
3Make this negative: 'Ich esse gern Fleisch.'
Show a sample answer
Ich esse nicht gern Fleisch.
Add 'nicht' before 'gern' to negate the preference. Another way is 'Ich mag kein Fleisch' (I don't like meat), which is also correct.
Use 'gern' after verbs like 'essen' and 'trinken' to say you like doing something. Put 'nicht' before 'gern' to say you don't. For liking things, use 'mögen' (ich mag, du magst). Practice with foods you like and dislike to make it natural.
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