Planning lunch at a restaurant | Learn German in English

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Use Planning lunch at a restaurant to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Möchtest du zusammen zu Mittag essen?

MURKH-tuhst doo tsoo-ZAHM-uhn tsoo MIT-tahk ESS-uhn? Would you like to have lunch together?

Das klingt gut. Wohin sollen wir gehen?

DAHS KLINKT GOOT. voh-HIN ZOL-uhn veer GAY-uhn? That sounds nice. Where should we go?

Vielleicht in das kleine Restaurant hier in der Nähe.

fee-LYKHT in dahs KLY-nuh reh-stoh-RAHNG heer in dair NAY-uh. Maybe the small restaurant near here.

Gehen wir dorthin, wenn es nicht voll ist.

GAY-uhn veer DORT-hin, venn ess nikht FOL ist. Let's go there if it isn't busy.

Sollen wir uns an der Eingangstür treffen?

ZOL-uhn veer oons an dair EYN-gahngs-tewr TREF-uhn? Should we meet by the front door?

Ich warte dort, wo du mich sehen kannst.

ikh VAHR-tuhn dort, voh doo mikh ZAY-uhn kahnst. I'll wait where you can see me.

Dann komme ich und suche dich.

DAHN KOM-uhn ikh oont ZOO-khuhn dikh. Then I'll come find you.

Danach können wir nach einem Tisch fragen.

dah-NAHKH KUR-nuhn veer nahkh EYN-um TISHK FRAH-guhn. After that, we can ask for a table.

Word by Word

Möchtest Möchtest means “would you like” in this invitation: “Möchtest du zusammen zu Mittag essen?” It is used with du to make a polite suggestion or offer, especially before an activity such as “Möchtest du … essen?”

du Du means “you” and refers to the friend being invited in “Möchtest du zusammen zu Mittag essen?” Use du when speaking directly to one person in an informal situation, commonly before a verb such as “Du kommst.”

zusammen Zusammen means “together” here, showing that both people would have lunch with each other. It can be reused before or after an activity, as in the dialogue phrase “zusammen zu Mittag essen.”

zu Zu is part of the expression “zu Mittag essen,” which means “to have lunch”; it does not mean “to” by itself in the English sentence. Reuse the whole pattern “zu Mittag essen” when talking about having lunch, for example in a new example: “Wir essen zu Mittag.”

Mittag Mittag refers to midday or the midday meal in the exact expression “zu Mittag essen.” The noun is used with zu and essen in this common way to talk about having lunch, such as in a new example: “Ich esse zu Mittag.”

essen Essen means “eat” in “zu Mittag essen,” meaning “have lunch.” The form appears at the end of this activity expression, so reuse the pattern “zu Mittag essen” rather than treating the phrase as only “essen.”

Das Das means “that” or “it” in “Das klingt gut,” referring to the suggested lunch plan. It is useful at the start of a response when commenting on something just mentioned, as in a new example: “Das ist schön.”

klingt Klingt means “sounds” in “Das klingt gut,” expressing an evaluation of the suggestion. The reusable pattern is “Das klingt + adjective,” as in a new example: “Das klingt interessant.”

gut Gut means “good” or “nice” in “Das klingt gut,” showing that the proposal sounds appealing. It can follow klingt to evaluate a suggestion, as in the reusable pattern “Das klingt gut.”

Wohin Wohin means “where to” and asks about the destination in “Wohin sollen wir gehen?” Use wohin with movement verbs such as gehen when asking where someone should go, as in a new example: “Wohin gehst du?”

sollen Sollen expresses “should” or “shall” in “Wohin sollen wir gehen?” Here it helps the speakers discuss or suggest a plan together. A useful pattern is “Sollen wir …?”, used when proposing a shared activity, as in a new example: “Sollen wir essen?”

wir Wir means “we” and refers to the two friends in “Wohin sollen wir gehen?” and “Gehen wir dorthin.” Use wir when the speaker includes themself and at least one other person, usually before the verb in a statement.

gehen Gehen means “go” in “Wohin sollen wir gehen?” and “Gehen wir dorthin.” It is used with a destination question such as wohin or with a place expression such as dorthin when discussing where to move.

Vielleicht Vielleicht means “maybe” and introduces a tentative restaurant suggestion in “Vielleicht in das kleine Restaurant hier in der Nähe.” Use it at the beginning of a suggestion when the speaker is not presenting the idea as certain, as in a new example: “Vielleicht morgen.”

in In means “in” or “into” in “in das kleine Restaurant,” pointing toward the restaurant as the destination. With a movement verb such as gehen, reuse in before the destination, as in a new example: “Wir gehen in das Restaurant.”

kleine Kleine means “small” and describes the restaurant in “das kleine Restaurant.” The form appears directly before Restaurant in this phrase, so a useful reuse pattern is “das kleine + noun,” as in a new example: “das kleine Café.”

Restaurant Restaurant means “restaurant” in “in das kleine Restaurant hier in der Nähe.” It names the suggested destination and can follow a describing word such as kleine, as in the reusable phrase “das kleine Restaurant.”

hier Hier means “here” and places the restaurant near the speakers in “hier in der Nähe.” It can combine with a place expression to identify something close to the current location, as in a new example: “Hier ist ein Café.”

der Der is the article form used in the expression “in der Nähe,” meaning “nearby” or “in the vicinity.” Learn it as part of this location phrase and reuse “in der Nähe” when saying that something is close, as in a new example: “Das Hotel ist in der Nähe.”

Nähe Nähe means “vicinity” or “nearby” in “hier in der Nähe,” identifying a place close to the speakers. It is commonly used in the pattern “in der Nähe,” as in a new example: “Ein Laden ist in der Nähe.”

dorthin Dorthin means “there” or “to that place” in “Gehen wir dorthin,” referring to the restaurant that was just suggested. Use dorthin with a movement verb when pointing to a destination, as in a new example: “Wir fahren dorthin.”

wenn Wenn means “if” in “wenn es nicht voll ist,” introducing the condition for going to the restaurant. It commonly starts a condition clause, as in a new example: “Wir gehen, wenn du Zeit hast.”

es Es means “it” in “es nicht voll ist,” referring here to the restaurant as the place being evaluated. In this pattern, es comes with an adjective such as voll to describe the situation, as in a new example: “Es ist ruhig.”

nicht Nicht means “not” and negates the description in “nicht voll,” giving the condition “if it is not busy/full.” Place nicht directly before the word or phrase being negated, as in the reusable pattern “nicht voll.”

voll Voll means “full” and, in this restaurant context, describes a place as busy or without available space in “nicht voll.” It can describe whether a restaurant has room, as in a new example: “Das Restaurant ist voll.”

ist Ist means “is” in “es nicht voll ist,” linking es with the description voll. It is used with a subject and an adjective to describe a current state, as in a new example: “Das Café ist klein.”

uns Uns means “us” in “Sollen wir uns an der Eingangstür treffen?” and is part of the expression for the two people meeting each other. Reuse the pattern “sich treffen” with the appropriate person form when arranging to meet, as in a new example: “Wir treffen uns morgen.”

an An means “at” or “by” in “an der Eingangstür,” specifying the meeting point beside the entrance door. Use an with a fixed location when arranging where to meet, as in a new example: “Wir treffen uns an der Tür.”

Eingangstür Eingangstür means “entrance door” or “front door” in “an der Eingangstür,” the agreed meeting place. It can follow a location phrase such as “an der,” as in the reusable pattern “an der Eingangstür warten.”

treffen Treffen means “meet” in “uns an der Eingangstür treffen,” describing the planned meeting. With people, reuse it in the pattern “sich treffen,” followed by a time or place, as in a new example: “Wir treffen uns am Mittag.”

Ich Ich means “I” and identifies the speaker in “Ich warte dort” and “Ich komme.” Use ich when stating what you yourself will do, normally before the verb in a simple statement, as in a new example: “Ich komme später.”

warte Warte means “wait” in “Ich warte dort,” telling the friend where the speaker will remain. It can be followed by a place or a person, as in a new example: “Ich warte hier.”

dort Dort means “there” and identifies the place where the speaker will wait in “Ich warte dort.” Use it to point to a place already known or indicated, as in a new example: “Ich bin dort.”

wo Wo means “where” in “wo du mich sehen kannst,” introducing the place at which the friend can see the speaker. Use wo for a location clause, as in a new example: “Ich weiß, wo du bist.”

mich Mich means “me” in “wo du mich sehen kannst,” referring to the speaker as the person who can be seen. It follows the verb or expression that acts on the speaker, as in a new example: “Du siehst mich.”

sehen Sehen means “see” in “mich sehen kannst.” It appears after kannst in this clause, and a useful pattern is “jemanden sehen,” as in a new example: “Ich kann dich sehen.”

kannst Kannst expresses “can” in “du mich sehen kannst,” saying that the friend is able to see the speaker. It is used with du and is followed here by the activity “mich sehen,” as in a new example: “Du kannst mich hören.”

Dann Dann means “then” and connects the next action to the meeting arrangement in “Dann komme ich und suche dich.” Use it to show what will happen afterward, as in a new example: “Dann gehen wir.”

komme Komme means “come” in “Dann komme ich,” describing the speaker’s movement toward the other person. It can be followed by a destination or by another coordinated action, as in the dialogue phrase “komme ich und suche dich.”

und Und means “and” and links the two actions “komme” and “suche” in “komme ich und suche dich.” Use und to connect related actions or statements, as in a new example: “Ich komme und warte.”

suche Suche means “look for” in “suche dich,” describing the speaker’s attempt to find the friend. Reuse the pattern “jemanden suchen,” with the person being looked for after the verb, as in a new example: “Ich suche dich.”

dich Dich means “you” in “suche dich,” referring to the friend whom the speaker will look for. It is used when one person is directly affected by the action, as in a new example: “Ich sehe dich.”

Danach Danach means “after that” and marks the action that follows meeting in “Danach können wir nach einem Tisch fragen.” Use it to connect a later step to something already mentioned, as in a new example: “Danach essen wir.”

können Können means “can” or “be able to” in “können wir nach einem Tisch fragen,” expressing that the two friends are able or ready to ask for a table. It is followed here by an activity in the pattern “können wir … fragen,” as in a new example: “Wir können warten.”

nach Nach is part of “nach einem Tisch fragen,” the expression used here for asking for a table. Keep nach with the thing being requested or asked about, as in the reusable pattern “nach etwas fragen.”

einem Einem is the article form in “nach einem Tisch,” referring to one table being requested. It belongs with Tisch in this phrase, so reuse the complete pattern “nach einem Tisch fragen” when asking a restaurant for a table.

Tisch Tisch means “table” in “nach einem Tisch fragen,” the table the friends want at the restaurant. It can be used after nach in the pattern “nach einem Tisch fragen,” as in a new example: “Wir fragen nach einem Tisch.”

fragen Fragen means “ask” in “nach einem Tisch fragen,” describing the request the friends plan to make at the restaurant. Reuse it with nach and the requested thing, as in the pattern “nach einem Tisch fragen.”

Grammar Points

möchten + Infinitiv

Möchtest du zusammen zu Mittag essen?

MURKH-tuhst doo tsoo-ZAHM-uhn tsoo MIT-tahk ESS-uhn?

Would you like to have lunch together?

möchten expresses a polite wish; the other verb stays in the infinitive.

German Vocabulary

dorthin adv

DORT-hin there; to that place

gehen verb

GAY-uhn to go

gut adj

GOOT good; nice

in der Nähe phrase

in dair NAY-uh nearby; in the vicinity

klein adj

KLYN small kleine

klingen verb

KLINK-uhn to sound klingt

möchten verb

MURKH-tuhn would like Möchtest

Restaurant noun

reh-stoh-RAHNG restaurant

vielleicht adv

fee-LYKHT maybe

wohin adv

voh-HIN where to

zu Mittag essen phrase

tsoo MIT-tahk ESS-uhn to have lunch

zusammen adv

tsoo-ZAHM-uhn together

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Would you like to have lunch together?

Show Answer

Möchtest du zusammen zu Mittag essen?

Then I'll come find you.

Show Answer

Dann komme ich und suche dich.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to sound

Show Answer

klingt

small

Show Answer

kleine

together

Show Answer

zusammen

where to

Show Answer

wohin