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German phrases for saying you're vegetarian or vegan in Germany

Say “Ich esse kein Fleisch” or “Ich bin Vegetarier” (a woman says Vegetarierin) when you get the menu. Ask “Was empfehlen Sie?”, then check a dish with “Ist da Speck drin?”. Some German classics, such as soups and fried potatoes, contain bacon or meat stock, so it pays to ask.

Try it · about two minutes

Before ordering, you explain that you don’t eat meat and check which dishes on the menu fit.

Sound on: the server speaks German. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

How does the conversation usually go?

  1. Server

    Hier ist die Speisekarte.

    Here is the menu.

    You

    Ich esse kein Fleisch.

    I don’t eat meat.

  2. Server

    Möchten Sie schon bestellen?

    Are you ready to order?

    You

    Was empfehlen Sie?

    What do you recommend?

  3. Server

    Wir haben Käsespätzle, eine Gemüselasagne und eine Kürbissuppe. Alles ohne Fleisch, glaube ich.

    We have cheese spätzle, a vegetable lasagne and a pumpkin soup. All without meat, I think.

    You

    Ist da Speck drin?

    Is there bacon in it?

  4. Server

    Was möchten Sie?

    What would you like?

    You

    Ich hätte gern die Suppe.

    I’d like the soup, please.

  5. Server

    Möchten Sie etwas trinken?

    Would you like something to drink?

    You

    Wasser, bitte.

    Water, please.

  6. Server

    Ist alles in Ordnung?

    Is everything all right?

    You

    Danke, es schmeckt sehr gut.

    Thank you, it’s very good.

Which German phrases do you need?

  • Ich esse kein Fleisch.

    I don’t eat meat.

  • Ohne Fleisch, bitte.

    No meat, please.

  • Haben Sie vegane Gerichte?

    Do you have vegan dishes?

  • Was empfehlen Sie?

    What do you recommend?

  • Ist das scharf?

    Is it spicy?

  • Ich hätte gern die Suppe.

    I’d like the soup, please.

  • Kann ich bitte die Speisekarte haben?

    Can I see the menu, please?

  • Möchten Sie schon bestellen?

    Are you ready to order?

  • Danke, es schmeckt sehr gut.

    Thank you, it’s very good.

What is worth knowing in Germany?

Vegetarisch or vegan

No meat or fish

Haben Sie vegetarische Gerichte?

Do you have vegetarian dishes?

Stricter: vegan

Haben Sie vegane Gerichte?

Do you have vegan dishes?

Vegetarisch means no meat and no fish. Vegan also leaves out milk, eggs, honey and anything else from animals. Say which one you mean.

Ask about bacon and stock

Bacon (Speck) and meat stock (Brühe) turn up in soups, sauces and side dishes such as fried potatoes, even when the menu doesn’t say meat. A quick question avoids a surprise.

Ist da Speck drin?

Is there bacon in it?

Words on a menu

Look for ohne Fleisch (without meat), Gemüse (vegetables), Käse (cheese) and Ei (egg). Vegetarian dishes are often marked with a small symbol, but ask if you are unsure.

Ohne Fleisch, bitte.

No meat, please.

Questions about this situation

Which German phrases matter most here?
“Ich esse kein Fleisch.” (I don’t eat meat); “Ohne Fleisch, bitte.” (No meat, please); “Haben Sie vegane Gerichte?” (Do you have vegan dishes). The full list is above.
Can I hear how they sound?
Yes: press the speaker next to a phrase to hear it, recorded for the Frasa app.
How can I practise this conversation?
Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in Germany. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

Related situations in German

All situations in German

Practise these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

AI-generated. May be inaccurate.