German · A1 · Everyday language
Lunchbox Little Extras in German
Use simple German to pack a lunchbox together, offer snacks and check what is left. English “some” and “any” do not always need a separate word in German.
What you'll learn
- Offer food and ask what is available.
- Use etwas for a small amount and ein paar for a few items.
- Ask simple questions without translating “any” word for word.
- Use keine to say there are no items of a particular kind.
German phrases for lunchbox little extras
Möchtest du etwas Käse?
Would you like some cheese?
Möchtest du …? is a friendly way to offer something. Etwas means “some” or “a little.”
Hast du Wasser?
Do you have any water?
German often leaves out “any” in questions. Hast du …? means “Do you have …?”
Hier sind ein paar Apfelscheiben.
Here are some apple slices.
Ein paar means “a few.” Use sind because Apfelscheiben is plural.
Gibt es Trauben?
Are there any grapes?
Gibt es …? asks whether something is available. No separate word for “any” is needed.
Lass uns etwas Brot einpacken.
Let's pack some bread.
Lass uns … means “Let's ….” The action word einpacken goes at the end.
Wir haben keine Bananen.
We don't have any bananas.
Keine before a plural noun means “no” or “not any.”
In deiner Brotdose ist etwas Joghurt.
There is some yogurt in your lunchbox.
In deiner Brotdose means “in your lunchbox.” Etwas describes an unspecified amount.
Ist noch etwas zu essen da?
Is there any food left?
Etwas zu essen means “something to eat.” Noch … da asks whether any is still there.
Hear these phrases and practise them
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
der Käse
cheese
Use etwas Käse for “some cheese.”
das Wasser
water
Usually used without an article when asking for or about water.
die Apfelscheibe
apple slice
Plural: die Apfelscheiben.
die Traube
grape
Plural: die Trauben.
das Brot
bread
Etwas Brot means “some bread,” not a specific number of slices.
die Banane
banana
Plural: die Bananen.
der Joghurt
yogurt
Use etwas Joghurt for “some yogurt.”
die Brotdose
lunchbox
A common word for a box used to carry sandwiches and snacks.
einpacken
to pack
Useful when putting food into a lunchbox or bag.
Saying “some”
Use etwas for an unspecified amount of food or drink. Use ein paar for a few separate items. Both expressions stay the same before different nouns.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| An amount | etwas + noun | etwas Käse — some cheese |
| A few items | ein paar + plural noun | ein paar Apfelscheiben — some apple slices |
Asking about “any”
German often uses just the noun where English uses “any.” Start with Hast du to ask what someone has, or Gibt es to ask what is available.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| What someone has | Hast du + noun? | Hast du Wasser? — Do you have any water? |
| What is available | Gibt es + noun? | Gibt es Trauben? — Are there any grapes? |
Saying “not any”
Use a form of kein before a noun to mean “no” or “not any.” In these sentences with haben, use keine for plural nouns and kein for the neuter nouns Wasser and Brot.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Plural | Wir haben keine + plural noun. | Wir haben keine Bananen. — We don't have any bananas. |
| Neuter | Wir haben kein + neuter noun. | Wir haben kein Brot. — We don't have any bread. |
More examples
Möchtest du ein paar Trauben?
Would you like some grapes?
Use ein paar because grapes are separate, countable items.
Gibt es noch Brot?
Is there any bread left?
Noch asks whether bread is still available.
Wir haben keine Apfelscheiben.
We don't have any apple slices.
Keine goes before the plural noun.
Lass uns etwas Wasser einpacken.
Let's pack some water.
Reuse Lass uns … einpacken to suggest what to pack together.