German · A1 · Family moment
Team Kitchen Helpers in German
Use these friendly German instructions to prepare a meal together. Each phrase addresses one child or someone you know well. Add bitte (please) for a polite tone.
What you'll learn
- Give simple kitchen instructions to one person.
- Name common foods and table items.
- Use imperative verbs with direct objects.
- Notice how der changes to den for masculine direct objects.
German phrases for team kitchen helpers
Wasch die Tomaten.
Wash the tomatoes.
Wasch is the informal singular imperative of waschen (to wash).
Schneide die Gurke.
Cut the cucumber.
Schneiden keeps an -e in this imperative: schneide. Help young children with cutting.
Bring die Schüssel.
Bring the bowl.
Bring comes from bringen (to bring).
Misch den Salat.
Mix the salad.
Der Salat becomes den Salat because it is the direct object.
Deck den Tisch.
Set the table.
Den Tisch decken is the usual German expression for setting the table.
Füll die Gläser.
Fill the glasses.
Gläser is the plural of das Glas (the glass).
Reich das Brot.
Pass the bread.
Reichen means to pass or hand something to someone.
Trockne die Teller ab.
Dry the plates.
Abtrocknen means to dry with a towel. Its prefix ab moves to the end.
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
die Tomate
the tomato
Plural: die Tomaten.
die Gurke
the cucumber
Plural: die Gurken.
die Schüssel
the bowl
Plural: die Schüsseln.
der Salat
the salad
Use den Salat as the direct object.
der Tisch
the table
Use den Tisch as the direct object.
das Glas
the glass
Plural: die Gläser. Notice the added umlaut.
das Brot
the bread
The article stays das when bread is the direct object.
der Teller
the plate
Plural: die Teller. The noun itself does not change.
Instructions for one person
Use the informal singular imperative when speaking to one child. Start with the verb and leave out du (you). Many verbs use their stem; some need an ending such as -e.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| bringen → bring | Imperative + object | Bring die Schüssel. |
| schneiden → schneide | Stem + -e + object | Schneide die Gurke. |
| Add please | Imperative + bitte + object | Wasch bitte die Tomaten. |
Direct objects: what receives the action
The thing you wash, cut, bring or fill is the direct object. German uses the accusative case for it. With definite articles, masculine der changes to den; die, das and plural die stay the same.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | der → den | Deck den Tisch. |
| Feminine | die → die | Schneide die Gurke. |
| Neuter | das → das | Reich das Brot. |
| Plural | die → die | Füll die Gläser. |
Separable verb: abtrocknen
Abtrocknen splits in this instruction. Put trockne first and ab at the end, with the object between them.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Dry with a towel | Trockne + object + ab. | Trockne die Teller ab. |
More examples
Bring bitte die Schüssel.
Please bring the bowl.
Bitte makes the instruction more polite.
Füll bitte die Gläser.
Please fill the glasses.
Plural direct objects use die.
Trockne bitte die Teller ab.
Please dry the plates.
Ab stays at the end, even when you add bitte.