01
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 Karte
card / map
'die Karte' and 'die Speisekarte' can both mean the list of food and drinks in a restaurant. In this context, they are synonyms. 'Speisekarte' is more precise because it is immediately clear that it is about food and drinks. 'Karte' is shorter and very natural in a restaurant, but outside this context it can have many other meanings. If you say 'Bitte die Karte' (the menu, please) in a restaurant, people normally understand it as 'die Speisekarte'.
Speisekarte
Am Abend frage ich den Kellner nach der Speisekarte.
In the evening, I ask the waiter for the menu.
Karte
Meine Freundin liest die Karte und sucht ein vegetarisches Gericht.
My friend is reading the menu and looking for a vegetarian dish.
In real life
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