German · A1 · Family moment
Choose Our Snack in German
Practise choosing a snack together in German. Use möchte for polite wishes and will for a more direct “want.”
What you'll learn
- Say what you would like to eat or drink.
- Ask your child what they want.
- Use möchte and will with actions such as eating and helping.
German phrases for choose our snack
Ich möchte einen Apfel.
I would like an apple.
Apfel is masculine. Use einen for “an” when the apple is what you would like.
Ich will Wasser.
I want some water.
Will means “want,” not the English future “will.” German usually leaves out “some” here.
Möchtest du ein Sandwich?
Would you like a sandwich?
Use du when speaking to your child. Put möchtest before du to ask a yes/no question.
Willst du Käse?
Do you want cheese?
With du, use willst. German does not add a separate word for “do” in this question.
Ich möchte Tee.
I would like some tea.
No word for “some” is needed here. Möchte makes the wish sound polite.
Was möchtest du?
What would you like?
Was means “what.” Put möchtest directly after was.
Ich will mit dir essen.
I want to eat with you.
Mit dir means “with you.” Essen goes at the end, without zu.
Möchtest du helfen?
Would you like to help?
Helfen means “to help.” It goes at the end, without zu.
Hear these phrases and practise them
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
der Apfel
apple
A masculine noun: der Apfel, but einen Apfel after möchte in this phrase.
das Wasser
water
Use Wasser without an article when asking for an unspecified amount.
das Sandwich
sandwich
A neuter noun: use ein Sandwich after möchte.
der Käse
cheese
Usually used without an article when talking about some cheese.
der Tee
tea
All German nouns begin with a capital letter.
essen
to eat
Use this unchanged form after will or möchte.
helfen
to help
Möchtest du helfen? is a friendly invitation to join in.
mit dir
with you
After mit, du changes to dir.
Saying what you want
Möchte means “would like” and sounds polite. Will means “want” and is more direct. The form changes depending on who is speaking or being addressed.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I would like | ich möchte | Ich möchte einen Apfel. |
| You would like | du möchtest | Du möchtest Tee. |
| I want | ich will | Ich will Wasser. |
| You want | du willst | Du willst Käse. |
Asking about wishes
For a yes/no question, put möchtest or willst before du. For “What would you like?”, put was first, then möchtest, then du.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Polite offer | Möchtest du + food or drink? | Möchtest du ein Sandwich? |
| Direct question | Willst du + food or drink? | Willst du Käse? |
| Open choice | Was möchtest du? | Was möchtest du? |
Wanting to do something
With will or möchte, put the action verb in its infinitive form at the end. Do not add zu, even though English uses “to.”
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Want to eat | Ich will + other words + essen. | Ich will mit dir essen. |
| Would like to help | Möchtest du + helfen? | Möchtest du helfen? |
More examples
Möchtest du Wasser?
Would you like some water?
A polite offer during snack time.
Ich möchte Käse.
I would like some cheese.
Use möchte for a softer wish.
Ich möchte mit dir essen.
I would like to eat with you.
The action verb essen stays at the end.