German course

Lesson 23 of 240

New here? This is lesson 23 of a free 240-lesson German course.

Start hereHow this works

Eat here or take away in German

Priya is back at Bäckerei Krause with another long polite sentence ready. Renate does not wait. She asks if this is to eat here or to go.

Priya will take it to the bench outside. Anton stays at the corner table with his unfinished Milchkaffee.

By the end, you'll say you are eating here or taking it away, and you'll refuse a bag.

Renate wants a short answer at the counter. Keep the long please-could-you for later.

By the end of this lesson

Say whether you will eat here or take it away, and refuse a bag or extras.

  • Hier oder zum Mitnehmen?Eating in or taking away?
  • Zum Mitnehmen, bitte.To go, please.
  • Ich esse hier.I'm eating here.
  • Ich nehme es mit.I'll take it with me.
  • Eine Tüte?A bag?
  • Keine Tüte, danke.No bag, thanks.

Scene — the bakery counter

The bakery is busy after breakfast. Priya starts a long request at the counter, and Renate cuts in.

Anton sits on two chairs at the corner table. His Milchkaffee is still full. The bench outside is free.

Priya begins a long request at the counter as Renate steps in, while Anton remains seated at the corner table beside his full Milchkaffee.

Learn — here or to go

Six short lines cover eating here, taking food away, and saying no to a bag.

You'll hear the counter question first, then the answers you can give.

  1. Renate leans toward Priya at the counter with an expectant gesture between the plate and the wrapping paper.

    Hier oder zum Mitnehmen?

    Eating in or taking away?

    When to use it: Ask this at the counter to check eating in or taking away.

    Learn it as one piece for the counter choice.

    Say it: Mitnehmen puts the stress on the first syllable.

  2. Priya indicates the open shop door to show she wants her order to go.

    Zum Mitnehmen, bitte.

    To go, please.

    When to use it: Say this when you want the food to go.

    Learn it as one piece when you take food away.

  3. Renate holds out a plain paper bag toward Priya, waiting for her answer.

    Ich esse hier.

    I'm eating here.

    When to use it: Say this when you will sit and eat in the shop.

    Learn it as one piece if you stay and eat.

  4. Priya raises an open palm to refuse the bag as Renate holds it near the counter.

    Ich nehme es mit.

    I'll take it with me.

    When to use it: Say this to tell someone you will take it.

    Learn it as one piece when you take it with you.

  5. Renate wraps the Schrippe and slides it across the counter toward Priya.

    Eine Tüte?

    A bag?

    When to use it: Ask this when you offer someone a bag.

    Learn it as one piece for offering a bag.

    Say it: The ü in Tüte is a tight rounded vowel.

  6. Priya pauses at the bakery doorway with her wrapped pastry while Anton stays seated beside his full Milchkaffee.

    Keine Tüte, danke.

    No bag, thanks.

    When to use it: Say this to refuse a bag at the counter.

    Learn it as one piece to say no to a bag.

Story — to the bench

Watch Renate cut the long request short. Priya takes her order to the bench, and Anton stays put.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. Priya starts a long polite request. Renate does not wait for the end.
  2. RenateHier oder zum Mitnehmen?Eating in or taking away?
  3. PriyaZum Mitnehmen, bitte.To go, please.
  4. RenateEine Tüte?A bag?
  5. PriyaKeine Tüte, danke.No bag, thanks.
  6. Renate wraps the Schrippe and slides it over the counter.
  7. RenateBitte schön.Here you go.
  8. Priya turns to the door. Anton stays on two chairs.
  9. AntonIch esse hier.I'm eating here.
  10. PriyaIch nehme es mit.I'll take it with me.
  11. He still does not stand up. His Milchkaffee is still full.

Practice — bag or no bag

Ten quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    German

    Hier oder zum Mitnehmen?Drop the English here
    Zum Mitnehmen, bitte.Drop the English here
    Ich esse hier.Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its German, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    You want to take the food away from the bakery.

  4. Fill the gap

    I'm eating here.

    Ich ____ hier.

  5. What does it mean?

    Eine Tüte?

  6. Swap the word

    Renate holds out a paper bag. You do not want it.

    ____ Tüte, danke.

  7. Build the line

    I'll take it with me.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  8. Pick the reply

    Renate says:

    Eine Tüte?

    A bag?

    And you reply with:

  9. True or false?

    You say this when you want to refuse something offered.

  10. Fill the gap

    Here you go

    Bitte ____.

Say it — say it at the counter

Now you're Priya at the counter again. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. RenateHier oder zum Mitnehmen?Eating in or taking away?
  2. Priya (you)Tell her you want it to go.

    Zum Mitnehmen, bitte.

    To go, please.

0 of 3 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Hier oder zum Mitnehmen?Eating in or taking away?
Zum Mitnehmen, bitte.To go, please.
Ich esse hier.I'm eating here.
Ich nehme es mit.I'll take it with me.
Eine Tüte?A bag?
Keine Tüte, danke.No bag, thanks.
Next: lesson 24I want

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these counter lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps here-or-to-go ready at the counter.

Open Yak Cards