New here? This is lesson 141 of a free 240-lesson German course.
The canal market in German
Tuesday at the canal market. Priya stops at a stall and stares at a pan.
Anton is already beside her, sure of her order before she has read a thing.
By the end, you'll ask what's in a dish, order it politely, and check if it is homemade, vegetarian, or too spicy.
The stall holder gets Sie. Keep each order to one thing after gern.
By the end of this lesson
Order street food at the canal market and ask what is in it.
- Was ist da drin?What's in that?
- Ich hätte gern ___.I'd like ___.
- Ist das hausgemacht?Is it homemade?
- Nicht zu scharf, bitte.Not too spicy, please.
- Noch eine Portion, bitte.Another portion, please.
- Ist das vegetarisch?Is that vegetarian?
Scene — the canal stall
It is Tuesday along the Landwehrkanal. Folding tables and fruit crates line the path. Priya stares at a pan on a stall.
A woman at the stall waits with a spoon. Anton stands beside Priya, a Deutschlandticket on a cord, as if he already knows her order.
Learn — what's in the pan
Six lines cover asking what is in a dish, ordering one thing, and checking homemade, spice, and vegetarian.
You'll also ask for another portion.
Was ist da drin?
What's in that?
When to use it: Ask this at a stall when you want to know what is in a dish.
Da points at the food; the verb stays second.
Ich hätte gern ___.
I'd like ___.
When to use it: Use this to order one thing at a stall or counter.
Fill one thing after gern; hätte gern is the polite order.
Say it: The ä in hätte is a short e sound.
Ist das hausgemacht?
Is it homemade?
When to use it: Ask this when you want to know if the food is made here.
Yes-no questions put the verb first.
Say it: The ch in gemacht is the ach sound after a.
Nicht zu scharf, bitte.
Not too spicy, please.
When to use it: Say this when you order if you want the dish milder.
Zu before an adjective means too much of that quality.
Say it: Scharf starts with sch, as in Schule.
Noch eine Portion, bitte.
Another portion, please.
When to use it: Say this when you want one more serving of the same dish.
Learn eine with Portion; it stays eine in this order.
Ist das vegetarisch?
Is that vegetarian?
When to use it: Ask this about a dish if you eat no meat.
Das points at the food in front of you.
Story — he already knows
Watch Priya at a canal stall. Anton names her order before she has read anything.
The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.
- Tuesday at the canal. Priya stares at a pan. Anton is already beside her.
AntonIch war nur zufällig in der Gegend.I just happened to be in the area.- He looks at the pan, then at her, as if the choice is already made.
- AntonWas isst du gern?What do you like to eat?
PriyaEtwas Warmes vom Markt.Something warm from the market.- She points at the pan. The woman at the stall leans in.
- PriyaWas ist da drin?What's in that?
- Stall holderKartoffeln, Zwiebeln und etwas Chili.Potatoes, onions, and a bit of chili.
- AntonDu nimmst die Kartoffeln.You're having the potatoes.
- PriyaIst das hausgemacht?Is it homemade?
- Stall holderJa, selbst gemacht.Yes, homemade.
- PriyaIst das vegetarisch?Is that vegetarian?
- Stall holderJa, ohne Fleisch.Yes, with no meat.
- PriyaNicht zu scharf, bitte.Not too spicy, please.
- Stall holderIn Ordnung.All right.
- PriyaIch hätte gern eine Portion.I'd like a portion.
- AntonDas sieht gut aus.That looks good.
- He stays by the pan and does not order. Priya turns back to the stall for him.
- PriyaNoch eine Portion, bitte.Another portion, please.
- Stall holderKommt sofort.Coming right away.
Practice — order from the stall
Eleven short exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, fill a gap, swap a word, and build a line.
They stay on the stall, so the round moves fast.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
German
Was ist da drin?Drop the English hereIst das hausgemacht?Drop the English hereIst das vegetarisch?Drop the English hereEnglish
What do you say?
What do you say?
You point at the pan and order one thing.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
Not too spicy, please.
Nicht zu ____, bitte.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
Ist das hausgemacht?
Swap the word
Swap the word
You eat no meat. Check that dish in the pan.
Ist das ____?
Pick the reply
Stall holder says:
Pick the reply
Wollen Sie noch eine Portion?
Would you like another portion?
And you reply with:
Build the line
Build the line
What's in that?
?
Tap the words in order.
What do you say?
What do you say?
A friend is with you at the stall. Ask what they like to eat.
True or false?
True or false?
This says you went to the market today.
True or false?
True or false?
This asks if that dish is vegetarian.
Say it — place your order
Now you're Priya at the canal stall. 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.
- Stall holderJa, bitte?Yes?
- Priya (you)Ask what is in the pan.
Ask what is in the pan.
Was ist da drin?
What's in that?
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| German | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| Was ist da drin? | What's in that? | |
| Ich hätte gern ___. | I'd like ___. | |
| Ist das hausgemacht? | Is it homemade? | |
| Nicht zu scharf, bitte. | Not too spicy, please. | |
| Noch eine Portion, bitte. | Another portion, please. | |
| Ist das vegetarisch? | Is that vegetarian? |
Save your progress — it’s free
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Want to keep these stall lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.
A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your market order ready.
Open Yak Cards