die Speisekarte
menu
A list of the food and drinks offered in a restaurant or inn, often with the corresponding prices.
EXAMPLE
Könnten Sie uns bitte die Speisekarte bringen?
Could you please bring us the menu?
die Speisekarte
menu
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word composition
The word is made up of 'Speise' (a prepared dish) and 'Karte' (a list or directory). So it is literally a 'list of dishes.'
EXAMPLE
Auf der Rückseite der Speisekarte finden Sie die Getränke.
You will find the drinks on the back of the menu.
Typical verbs
In a restaurant, the verbs 'bringen' (to bring), 'bekommen' (to get), or 'verlangen' (to ask for/request) are often used when asking for the menu. You can also 'in die Speisekarte schauen' (look at the menu) or 'studieren' (study) it.
EXAMPLE
Entschuldigung, könnten wir bitte die Speisekarte bekommen?
Excuse me, could we please get the menu?
Fixed expression
To express that a dish is offered in a restaurant, you use the fixed expression 'etwas steht auf der Speisekarte' (something is on the menu).
EXAMPLE
Ich hoffe, dass vegetarische Gerichte auf der Speisekarte stehen.
I hope that vegetarian dishes are on the menu.
Compare with
Speisekarte vs Menü
menu
Speisekarte clearly refers to the complete list of all food and drinks on offer. Menü usually means a set sequence of courses, but it can also refer to this list. When you explicitly mean the complete list of what is offered, choose Speisekarte.
Speisekarte
Wir suchen auf der Speisekarte nach einem vegetarischen Hauptgericht.
We are looking on the menu for a vegetarian main course.
Menü
Wir bestellen das dreigängige Menü mit Suppe, Hauptgericht und Dessert.
We are ordering the three-course set menu with soup, a main course, and dessert.
In real life
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