German - Needs and Preferences

Lesson 148 of 158

A friendly learner practicing German phrases about wants and searching in a city — Needs and Preferences lesson.

Goal: Say what you want, don't want, or are looking for

Free German lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Welcome! This short lesson helps you say what you feel like doing or looking for in everyday German. Read, listen, and try the short dialogue to practice natural replies.

Level A1: In Lesson 148 you'll learn three useful German phrases for needs and preferences: how to say “I'm in the mood for…”, “I don't feel like it,” and “I'm looking for…”. This CEFR-aligned mini-lesson focuses on hearing the phrases, using them in a short conversation, and practicing with quick quizzes so you can use them in German everyday life.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Recognize and say Ich habe Lust auf ___., Ich habe keine Lust., and Ich suche nach ___.
  • Use Ich habe Lust auf + accusative to say what you want.
  • Ask for and say what you are looking for with Ich suche nach + dative.
Two people in a German street deciding where to go — practicing Ich habe Lust auf and Ich suche nach.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

Ich habe Lust auf ___.

I feel like ___ / I'm in the mood for ___.

Meaning: I feel like ___ / I'm in the mood for ___.

When to use: Use this to say you want something or want to do something. Follow auf with an accusative noun: e.g. Pizza, einen Kaffee, einen Spaziergang.

Tip: Remember: nach vs. auf — use auf + accusative (einen Kaffee), not auf + nominative.

Ich habe Lust auf Pizza.
I'm in the mood for pizza.
Ich habe Lust auf einen Spaziergang.
I feel like going for a walk.

Ich habe keine Lust.

I don't feel like it.

Meaning: I don't feel like it.

When to use: Say this when you don't want to do something. It's casual and can sound blunt depending on tone—use politely with friends or family.

Heute habe ich keine Lust zu kochen.
Today I don't feel like cooking.
Nach der Arbeit habe ich keine Lust, wegzugehen.
After work I don't feel like going out.

Ich suche nach ___.

I'm looking for ___.

Meaning: I'm looking for ___.

When to use: Use Ich suche nach + dative for places or things you are trying to find: e.g. nach dem Bahnhof, nach einer Apotheke.

Tip: Don't forget nach + dative; learners sometimes drop nach and use the wrong case.

Ich suche nach dem Bahnhof.
I'm looking for the train station.
Ich suche nach einer Apotheke.
I'm looking for a pharmacy.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna and David try to find a place to eat and decide if they want to walk.

Anna and David talk in German about looking for a bakery and what they feel like eating.

What is Anna looking for?

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Ich suche nach einer Bäckerei.

I'm looking for a bakery.

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Warum? Hast du Hunger?

Why? Are you hungry?

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Ich habe Lust auf ein Brötchen.

I feel like a roll.

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Ich habe keine Lust, weit zu laufen.

I don't feel like walking far.

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Dann suchen wir lieber ein Café in der Nähe?

Then shall we look for a nearby café?

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Ja, ich habe Lust auf einen Kaffee.

Yes, I'm in the mood for a coffee.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

If someone says 'Ich habe keine Lust.', what are they saying?

Which German sentence means 'I'm in the mood for a coffee.'?

How do you say 'I'm looking for the train station' in German?

Which reply shows someone DOES want to do something?

It's raining outside. Sara says: 'Ich habe keine Lust.' (She doesn't want to go out.)

It's raining outside. Sara says: ___. (She doesn't want to go out.)

You see a café and think 'I feel like a coffee.' Choose the right German phrase: 'Ich habe Lust auf einen Kaffee.'

You see a café and think 'I feel like a coffee.' Choose the right German phrase: ___.

At the station you ask a passerby: 'Ich suche nach dem Bahnhof.' (You want directions.)

At the station you ask a passerby: ___. (You want directions.)

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ich habe Lust auf ___.

I feel like ___ / I'm in the mood for ___

Say this phrase out loud:

Ich habe keine Lust.

I don't feel like it.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ich suche nach ___.

I'm looking for ___.