Bier trinken
/biːr ˈtʁɪŋkən/word by word
The English phrase "drink beer" is translated into German as Bier trinken.
This phrase is used to describe the act of consuming a beverage made from brewed maltster grains. While Bier trinken refers to the general act, you can say ein Bier trinken if you want to specify consuming a single serving or a specific glass of beer.
Which one should you use?
The phrase Bier trinken refers to the general activity of drinking beer. In contrast, ein Bier trinken refers to drinking a single unit or glass of the beverage. When making suggestions, you might use Lass uns Bier trinken to say "Let's drink beer!"
How does it change in a sentence?
In the infinitive form Bier trinken, the object Bier precedes the verb trinken.
How do you pronounce it?
/biːr ˈtʁɪŋkən/
When do people say it?
When raising a glass to toast, Germans use the word Prost! to say "Cheers!"
Did you know?
- In Germany, it is considered a faux pas to not make eye contact with the other person while saying Prost! and taking a sip of Bier.
- In German, the word Bier and the English word 'beer' both stem from an ancient term for 'dross' or 'sediment', likely referring to the brewer's yeast left at the bottom of a vat.
- Germany has a legal concept called Reinheitsgebot, or the Beer Purity Law, which historically restricted the ingredients used to make Bier.
Examples in context
- Darfst du Bier trinken?Are you allowed to drink beer?This example shows how to ask if someone is permitted to use the phrase Bier trinken.Tatoeba #12110084 by Naina, translation #12110023 by CK
- Lass Tom kein Bier trinken!Don't let Tom drink beer.This example uses Bier trinken in a command context.Tatoeba #7464247 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #6350440 by CK
- Ich kann kein Bier trinken.I can't drink beer.This example shows a statement of inability regarding Bier trinken.Tatoeba #10061335 by wolfgangth, translation #8170408 by lucasmg123
- Lass uns Bier trinken. Prost!Let's drink beer together. Cheers!
- Dürfen Sie Bier trinken?May you drink beer?
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sarah and Maximilian are meeting at a pub.
- SarahMöchtest du heute Abend Bier trinken?Would you like to drink beer tonight?
- MaximilianJa, ich möchte gerne Bier trinken.Yes, I would like to drink beer.
- SarahWo wollen wir Bier trinken gehen?Where do we want to go drink beer?
- MaximilianGehen wir in die kleine Kneipe.Let's go to the little pub.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (Bier, trinken) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Bier, trinken, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
