German word

essen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈɛsən/

Meaning

  • verbeat

Example

Ich esse jeden Morgen ein Brötchen.

Every morning, I eat a bread roll.

Illustration for essen (eat)

More examples

Heute will ich zu Mittag essen.

Today I want to eat lunch.

Core concept

A person takes a bite from a meal, chews it, and turns it into bodily fuel.

Common phrases

  • zu Mittag essen

    eat lunch

  • gesund essen

    eat healthily

  • etwas essen

    eat something

Similar words

trinken: Consume a beverage by swallowing it for hydration or nourishment.
bestellen: Request food or drinks from a shop or restaurant.
mitnehmen: Take bought food or drinks away from the place of purchase.
kochen: Prepare food by heating or otherwise cooking its ingredients.

Definition in German

Mit dem Mund Nahrung aufnehmen, kauen und schlucken, um Energie zu gewinnen.

Word origin

Essen descends through Old High German ezzan and Middle High German ezzen from Proto-Germanic *etaną, the same inherited root as English eat.

Usage tips

  • Essen is a strong verb: its present-tense singular forms are ich esse, du isst, and er or sie isst.

Opposites

  • fastenfastverb
  • hungerngo hungryverb

Related words

  • das Essenfoodnoun
  • essbaredibleadjective
  • Essgewohnheiteating habitnoun

Word lists with this word