German Menu Structure: Say Appetizers, Main Courses, Desserts, and Drinks
Learn the German words for menu sections: appetizers, main courses, desserts, and drinks. Identify categories on a German menu and ask where items are listed.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you open a German menu, you will often see sections for appetizers, main courses, desserts, and drinks. Knowing the standard German labels helps you navigate without translating every dish. This lesson teaches the core menu-section words, the question words you need to ask where something is listed, and the difference between a section heading and a specific dish. You will also learn common regional variants, such as Vorspeise versus Entrée in some Swiss menus.
By the end, you can…
- name the four main menu sections in German.
- ask where a section or dish is listed on a German menu.
- recognize common regional variants for menu sections.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
die Vorspeise
the appetizer / starter
dee FOR-shpy-zuh
Standard German menu heading for appetizers. Plural: die Vorspeisen.
die Hauptspeise
the main course
dee HOWPT-shpy-zuh
Common menu heading for main dishes. Also common: das Hauptgericht.
der Nachtisch
the dessert
dair NAHK-tish
Standard word for dessert. Also common on menus: die Nachspeise.
das Getränk
the drink / beverage
dahs guh-TRENK
Menu heading for drinks. Plural: die Getränke.
Wo steht ... auf der Karte?
Where is ... on the menu?
voh SHTAYT ... owf dair KAR-tuh
Use this to ask where a section or dish appears. Replace ... with the item, e.g. Wo steht die Vorspeise auf der Karte?
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
German menu sections are usually nouns with a definite article. The article shows grammatical gender: die Vorspeise (feminine), die Hauptspeise (feminine), der Nachtisch (masculine), das Getränk (neuter). When you ask where something is, use the question word wo plus the verb steht: Wo steht die Vorspeise? (Where is the appetizer?) or Wo steht der Nachtisch? (Where is the dessert?). The verb steht is used because the item 'stands' or is written on the menu. For plural sections, use stehen: Wo stehen die Getränke? (Where are the drinks?).
When to use it
Use these section words when you first look at a menu and want to find a category quickly. If you cannot find a section, ask the server: Wo steht die Vorspeise auf der Karte? (Where is the appetizer on the menu?). In Austria and parts of southern Germany, you may see die Vorspeise and die Hauptspeise, but also regional terms like die Jause for a snack, which is not a main course. In Swiss German menus, Entrée can mean appetizer, unlike in French where it often means starter as well, but in some German-speaking regions Entrée may be used for a main dish. Always check the section heading rather than assuming a word means the same in every region.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Entschuldigung, wo steht die Vorspeise auf der Karte?
Excuse me, where is the appetizer on the menu?ent-SHOOL-dee-goong, voh SHTAYT dee FOR-shpy-zuh owf dair KAR-tuhDie Vorspeisen stehen oben links. Die Hauptspeisen sind in der Mitte.
The appetizers are at the top left. The main courses are in the middle.dee FOR-shpy-zuhn SHTAY-uhn OH-buhn links. dee HOWPT-shpy-zuhn zint in dair MIT-tuhDanke. Und wo steht der Nachtisch?
Thank you. And where is the dessert?DAHN-kuh. oont voh SHTAYT dair NAHK-tishDer Nachtisch steht unten rechts. Die Getränke sind auf der letzten Seite.
The dessert is at the bottom right. The drinks are on the last page.dair NAHK-tish SHTAYT OON-tuh rechts. dee guh-TREN-kuh zint owf dair LETS-tuhn ZY-tuhA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, menus often list sections in a fixed order: appetizers, main courses, desserts, drinks. In Austria, you may see die Vorspeise and die Hauptspeise, but also die Nachspeise instead of der Nachtisch. In Switzerland, menu French terms like Entrée may appear, but in German-speaking Swiss restaurants, Entrée can mean a starter. Always read the section heading rather than relying on a single word. Politeness: use Entschuldigung to get attention, and danke to thank.
One thing to watch for
Using das Essen to mean a specific menu section, as in Wo steht das Essen?
Try this instead: Das Essen means 'food' or 'meal' in general, not a menu section. For a section, say die Vorspeise, die Hauptspeise, der Nachtisch, or das Getränk. For example: Wo steht die Hauptspeise? (Where is the main course?)
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'the dessert' in standard German?
Show a sample answer
der Nachtisch
Der Nachtisch is the standard masculine noun for dessert. In some regions, die Nachspeise is also correct.
2Ask where the drinks are on the menu.
Show a sample answer
Wo stehen die Getränke auf der Karte?
Use wo stehen because die Getränke is plural. Wo steht is for singular. Both are correct depending on the noun.
3Which section word is feminine: der Nachtisch, die Vorspeise, or das Getränk?
Show a sample answer
die Vorspeise
Die Vorspeise is feminine. Der Nachtisch is masculine and das Getränk is neuter.
Learn the four section words with their articles: die Vorspeise, die Hauptspeise, der Nachtisch, das Getränk. Use Wo steht/stehen ... auf der Karte? to ask where a section is listed.
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