Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Burger | /ˈbœʁɡɐ/ | masculine |
| Hamburger | /ˈhamˌbʊʁɡɐ/ | masculine |
The term refers to a hamburger. In certain contexts, if you are referring specifically to the meat patty, you might use the word Bulette in Berlin and parts of northern Germany or Fleischlaberl in Austria to describe a burger-like meat patty.
Which one should you use?
Both Hamburger and Burger are masculine nouns used to mean the same thing.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Bavaria, you may hear the word Semmel used to refer to the roll of a burger, instead of the more common Brötchen. In Berlin and northern Germany, the meat patty is often called a Bulette, while in Austria, it is frequently called a Fleischlaberl.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of Burger is Burgers. As a masculine noun, when Burger is the direct object of a sentence, the indefinite article takes the masculine accusative ending, as seen in the phrase einen Burger.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbœʁɡɐ/
Did you know?
- Historically, the 'Hamburg steak' was a minced beef patty served without a bun, which is why the German word Hamburger existed before the modern American sandwich.
- The word Hamburger is formed by adding the suffix -er to the city name Hamburg, which is the standard German way to describe someone or something from that city.
- In Germany, using the shorter word Burger often implies a gourmet or trendy American-style meal rather than a standard fast-food option.
Examples in context
- Gehen wir einen Burger essen.Let's go grab a burger.This sentence is useful for suggesting a meal with the form Burger.Tatoeba #2504601 by Zaghawa, translation #2007633 by CK
- Der Hamburger war scheußlich!That burger was terrible!This sentence shows how to describe a bad experience with the form Hamburger.Tatoeba #13309129 by Waldelfe, translation #785626 by ingenius000
- Stefan bot Rima einen Hamburger an.Stefan offered Rima a burger.This sentence shows an offer involving the form Hamburger.Tatoeba #13595191 by Waldelfe, translation #11661408 by Amastan
- Guten Tag, ich hätte gerne einen Hamburger mit Pommes, bitte.Hello, I would like a burger with fries, please.
- Hey, hast du Lust, heute Burger essen zu gehen?Hey, do you feel like going out for burgers today?
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Hannah are deciding what to eat for dinner.
- LukasHast du Lust auf einen Burger?Do you feel like having a burger?
- HannahJa, das klingt super!Yes, that sounds great!
- LukasIch kenne einen tollen Burger-Laden.I know a great burger place.
- HannahDann lass uns dort hingehen.Then let's go there.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “burger” translations and entries Burger, Hamburger, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Burger, Hamburger, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
