Lecker (LEK-er) is the everyday German word for delicious: Das ist lecker! or Sehr lecker! Just as common is the verb schmecken, to taste: Das schmeckt sehr gut! (that tastes really good). Köstlich is the elegant version, for a special meal. If a host asks Schmeckt's? (do you like it?), answer Ja, sehr lecker!
- Everyday
- lecker
- Tastes good
- Das schmeckt gut.
- Elegant
- köstlich
- Do you like it?
- Schmeckt's?
- Level
- A1
Lecker, köstlich or schmeckt gut: which one?
Lecker is used by everyone, from children to grandparents, in kitchens and in restaurants. Das schmeckt gut says the same thing with a verb, and it is the phrase you will hear most from waiters and hosts. Köstlich belongs to a special occasion or a food review.
| German | Register | Example use |
|---|---|---|
| lecker | Everyday | Cake, soup, a sandwich, anything |
| Das schmeckt (sehr) gut. | Neutral, polite | To a host or a waiter |
| köstlich | Elegant | A celebration dinner, a fine restaurant |
| ausgezeichnet | Formal praise | Das Essen war ausgezeichnet (the food was excellent) |
| Das schmeckt nach mehr. | Casual | Moreish: it makes you want more |
| Ein Gedicht! | Playful | A poem! For something exquisite |
| mega lecker / voll lecker | Young, slangy | Among friends |
How do you compliment the cook in German?
Schmecken works back to front compared with English: the food is the subject, and the person who enjoys it is in the dative. Es schmeckt mir means I like it (it tastes good to me). So the host asks Schmeckt es dir? or, to a guest they call Sie, Schmeckt es Ihnen?
Das schmeckt super! Hast du das selbst gemacht?
This tastes great! Did you make it yourself?
du: a friend's dinner.
Das Essen war köstlich, vielen Dank für die Einladung.
The food was delicious, thank you for having us.
Polite, to any host.
Hat es Ihnen geschmeckt?
Did you enjoy your meal?
The waiter, when clearing plates.
Ja, danke, sehr gut.
Yes, thanks, very good.
Kann ich das Rezept haben?
Can I have the recipe?
What do Germans say before and after eating?
Before the first bite, someone says Guten Appetit! and the others answer Danke, gleichfalls! (thanks, you too). A host may say Lass es dir schmecken! to a friend, or Lassen Sie es sich schmecken! to a guest they call Sie. At work around midday you will hear Mahlzeit!, a lunchtime greeting in corridors and canteens.
If you are paying afterwards, see how to ask for the bill in German; if you are raising a glass first, how to say cheers in German.
Read A2 German stories full of bakeries, cafés and cake, and tap any word to translate it.
Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
How do you pronounce lecker?
Roughly "LEK-er", with the stress on the first syllable and a short e as in "neck". The final -er is a light "uh" sound in standard German.
Is lecker childish?
No. Adults use it all the time, at home and in restaurants. In very formal writing or a restaurant review, köstlich or ausgezeichnet sounds more polished.
What does Mahlzeit mean?
Literally "mealtime". It is a greeting colleagues exchange around lunchtime, in the canteen or the corridor. You answer with Mahlzeit! too. Some people love it; some find it old-fashioned.
How do you say something tastes bad politely?
Germans are direct, but with a host keep it gentle: Das ist nicht so mein Geschmack (it's not really my taste). Das schmeckt nicht (it doesn't taste good) is blunt.