Menus (Junior Cert German): Revision Notes
Menus
What is menu reading?
Menu reading is a practical German reading skill where you examine authentic materials from restaurants, cafés, or canteens. In exams, you'll need to find specific information like food items, drinks, prices, and dietary options. This skill helps you navigate real-life situations when visiting German-speaking countries and demonstrates your ability to extract key details from everyday German texts.
Essential vocabulary
Learning core food and drink terms is fundamental for understanding any German menu. These words appear frequently in reading tasks and form the building blocks for more complex menu comprehension.
Meals and courses
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Frühstück | Breakfast |
| Mittagessen | Lunch |
| Abendessen | Dinner/Supper |
| Vorspeise | Starter |
| Hauptgericht | Main course |
| Nachspeise/Dessert | Dessert |
Drinks (Getränke)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Wasser | Water |
| Mineralwasser | Mineral water |
| Saft | Juice |
| Apfelsaft | Apple juice |
| Orangensaft | Orange juice |
| Kaffee | Coffee |
| Tee | Tea |
| Milch | Milk |
Food basics
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Brot | Bread |
| Brötchen | Bread roll |
| Butter | Butter |
| Käse | Cheese |
| Schinken | Ham |
| Wurst | Sausage/cold meat |
Main ingredients
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Suppe | Soup |
| Salat | Salad |
| Huhn/Hähnchen | Chicken |
| Fisch | Fish |
| Rindfleisch | Beef |
| Schweinefleisch | Pork |
Dietary requirements
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Vegetarisch | Vegetarian |
| Vegan | Vegan |
| Glutenfrei | Gluten free |
Special terms
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Preis | Price |
| Tagesgericht | Dish of the day |
| Sonderangebot | Special offer |
Focus on memorising the basic vocabulary first, especially meal names and common drinks. These appear in almost every menu reading task and will help you understand the overall structure of German menus.
Guidelines for menu reading tasks
When approaching a German menu in an exam, focus on scanning rather than reading every word. Look for keywords that match the question you're answering. Pay special attention to prices, which are usually written with Euro symbols (€), and dietary labels that might appear next to dishes.
The tone in menu reading tasks is typically straightforward and informative. You're dealing with factual information rather than opinions or complex narratives, which makes this type of reading more predictable once you know the key vocabulary.
Reading Strategy Example:
If the question asks: "How much does the vegetarian pasta cost?"
Step 1: Scan for "vegetarisch" or "vegan" labels Step 2: Look for pasta-related words (Nudeln, Spaghetti, etc.) Step 3: Find the price next to the matching dish Step 4: Write the price exactly as shown: 8,50 €
Phrase bank
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Wie viel kostet...? | How much does... cost? | Asking about prices |
| Was bedeutet...? | What does... mean? | Understanding unfamiliar dishes |
| Welches Gericht ist vegetarisch? | Which dish is vegetarian? | Finding suitable options |
| Wann wird Frühstück serviert? | When is breakfast served? | Time-related questions |
| Das Tagesgericht | The dish of the day | Identifying daily specials |
| Ohne Fleisch | Without meat | Dietary restrictions |
| Mit Beilage | With side dish | Understanding what's included |
| Für 5,50 € | For 5.50 euros | Price format |
These phrases often appear directly in exam questions. Familiarising yourself with them will help you quickly identify what information you need to find.
Common mistakes and tips
Confusing meal times: Many students mix up Frühstück (breakfast), Mittagessen (lunch), and Abendessen (dinner). Remember that Früh means "early," Mittag relates to "midday," and Abend means "evening."
Misreading prices: Always write prices exactly as shown, including the Euro symbol and decimal places. Don't round up or convert currencies.
Overlooking dietary information: Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are often marked with special symbols or text. These details frequently appear in exam questions.
Ignoring compound words: German often combines words to create new meanings. If you see an unfamiliar word, try breaking it down into parts you might recognise.
Skipping conjunctions: Words like "oder" (or) and "und" (and) in set menus can change the meaning completely. A meal might include soup AND salad or soup OR salad.
Not checking currency format: German prices use commas instead of decimal points (e.g., 5,50 € not 5.50 €), though both formats may appear in exams.
Key Points to Remember:
- Master basic food and drink vocabulary before tackling complex menu items
- Scan for keywords that match your question rather than reading everything
- Pay attention to dietary labels - they often appear in exam questions
- Write prices exactly as shown, including proper formatting
- Look for connecting words like "oder" and "und" in set menus
- Some German dishes don't have direct English translations, so focus on main ingredients