German word

Essen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈɛsn̩/

Meaning

  • neuter nounmeal

Example

Zum Geburtstag hatten wir ein leckeres Essen.

We had a delicious birthday meal.

Illustration for Essen (meal)

More examples

Wir haben ein gesundes Essen bestellt.

We ordered a healthy meal.

Core concept

A prepared meal on the table, understood both as the dishes served and as food to eat.

Common phrases

  • jemanden zum Essen einladen

    invite someone to a meal

  • ein Essen bestellen

    order a meal

  • gesundes Essen

    healthy meal

Similar words

Mahlzeit: Food eaten at a particular time as one complete meal.
Mittagessen: The main meal eaten around midday.
Abendessen: The main meal eaten in the evening.
Frühstück: The meal eaten in the morning.

Definition in German

Nahrung oder zubereitete Speisen, also das, was man isst.

Word origin

Essen is the substantivized infinitive of essen, an inherited Germanic verb descended from Old High German ezzan, and it developed from eating to the food or meal involved.

Usage tips

  • As a neuter noun, das Essen is capitalized; in etwas zu essen, however, essen is an infinitive and remains lowercase.

Other meanings

  • foodnoun

Related words

  • das Mittagessenlunchnoun
  • essbaredibleadjective
  • das Esszimmerdining roomnoun

Word lists with this word