Grade 7German

Essen und Trinken (Einkaufen)

Food shopping vocabulary; quantities; meals; healthy eating.

📖 3 min read · 4 worked examples · 7 practice questions

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The lesson

Today we'll explore vocabulary you can use right here at the market. First, we'll learn the key words for shopping—things like das Brot (the bread), der Apfel (the apple), and die Milch (the milk). We'll also practice talking about quantities, ordering meals, and discussing healthy eating. Our goal is for you to be able to walk into a Kenyan market, ask for what you need in German, and even compare nutrition choices confidently. Notice how the bullet points connect directly to everyday experiences you already have—buying mangoes, choosing vegetables, or paying for a snack. If anything feels unclear, just raise your hand and we'll pause to check understanding together. The first set of vocabulary and practice using them in simple dialogues.

Everyone, let's explore some everyday German food words. This will help you shop and eat like a local when you visit Germany. Here is a short table of common foods: Brot (bread), Äpfel (apples), Milch (milk), Reis (rice), Gemüse (vegetables), and Fleisch (meat). Try saying each one aloud. Notice the umlaut in Äpfel – that little two‑dots changes the sound. Pronunciation tip: the Ä sounds like "ae" as in cat, Ö like "oe" as in bird, and Ü like "ue" as in few. The sharp ß is similar to a double "s". Give it a try! A helpful memory trick: picture each word at a familiar Kenyan market stall – imagine a bunch of fresh Äpfel on a vendor's table, or a pot of Milch next to the dairy stand. This will make the words stick.

Worked examples

Quantity Expressions

Let's explore how we talk about quantities when shopping in German. First, here are the numbers from 1 to 20, written with their German words. For example, eins (one), zwei (two), drei (three), and so on. Next, notice the common quantifiers we use: ein (one), ein Stück (one piece), ein Kilo (one kilogram), eine Tasse (one cup). These help you specify exactly how much you want. Ich möchte zwei Äpfel kaufen. means "I want to buy two apples." Notice how the number zwei comes before the noun Äpfel. Can anyone try forming a sentence for "I would like three bananas" using what we just learned?

Meals and Ordering at a Café

Let's explore how we can order meals in a café using German. We'll look at phrases for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. First, for breakfast you can say Ich möchte ein Frühstück bestellen (I would like to order a breakfast). Try repeating that after me. Next, for lunch you would say Ich nehme ein Sandwich und einen Saft (I'll have a sandwich and a juice). Notice the word nehme meaning "take" or "have". Finally, for dinner the phrase is Wir möchten drei Teller Reis und Gemüse (We would like three plates of rice and vegetables). Here möchten expresses a polite wish. Listen carefully to how the customer and vendor use the sentences.

Healthy Eating Vocabulary

Let's explore some useful German words for talking about food health. We'll start with the key adjectives. Here we have gesund (healthy), ungenisch (unhealthy), frisch (fresh) and süß (sweet). Notice how each adjective can be used to describe foods you like or dislike. A useful sentence is Ich esse gerne frisches Gemüse. That means "I like to eat fresh vegetables." Try saying it out loud, focusing on the adjective frisch. Finally, compare a typical Kenyan snack—chips, which are ungenisch, salty and fried—with a German healthy alternative like fresh fruit. This shows how we can discuss food choices in German.

Lesson Recap & Next Steps

Everyone, let's wrap up what we've learned today and look ahead to your next practice. First, remember the food items, quantities, and ordering phrases we practiced, plus the healthy adjectives like gesund (healthy) and frisch (fresh). I encourage each of you to create a short shopping dialogue at home—maybe with a sibling or parent—using those words. Finally, check the link in the resources section for extra online German grocery vocabulary; it's a great way to reinforce today's lesson. Great job today, class! Keep practicing, and I'll see you next time.

Practice questions

  • Remember, **Apfel** means "apple," and when you talk about quantities, the word "zwei" tells you there are two of something – so "zwei Kilo Kartoffeln" is simply two kilograms.
  • For the shopping sentences, notice how German links items with "und" (and) or commas, and how the verb "kaufen" stays the same regardless of the number of items you mention.
  • Take your time with each question, read the options carefully, and trust the patterns you've practiced. When you're ready, go ahead and submit your answers!
  • For the first question, recall the structure for telling time with "um" + hour. The correct verb form is the simple present **ich frühstücke** (I have breakfast).
  • The second question asks you to pick the healthiest meal. Think about what makes a dish nutritious: lots of vegetables, a little healthy oil, and limited fried or processed foods.
  • Is a multiple‑choice on protein foods. Cheese (**Käse**) and lentils (**Linsen**) are good protein sources, while apple (**Apfel**) and bread (**Brot**) are not primarily protein‑rich.
  • For the short‑answer, try to describe a balanced lunch using at least two German food words. For example: "Ich esse ein **Vollkornbrot** (whole‑grain bread) mit **Käse** und ein paar **Karotten** (carrots).

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