Trinken
/ˈtʁɪŋkən/
In German, the English phrase "drinking" is translated as Trinken.
Trinken is the most general term for the act or session of drinking in German. While it can refer to any liquid, more specific expressions exist depending on the context, such as Alkohol konsumieren for consuming alcohol or the idiom Einen über den Durst trinken to describe drinking too much.
Meaning: act or session by which drink is consumed (noun)
Which one should you use?
While Trinken is the general term, the colloquial term Saufen is often used specifically to refer to the act of drinking alcohol.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Trinken is considered a colloquial form in this context. For a more specific or formal way to describe the consumption of alcohol, one might use Alkohol konsumieren.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtʁɪŋkən/
Did you know?
- The term Saufen is so distinct that Germans use it to describe both binge drinking and the way a sponge absorbs liquid.
- The word Saufen is used for drinking alcohol but is literally the verb used for how animals drink water.
- In German, describing a person as a Trinker can carry a heavy social stigma, often implying they are a chronic alcoholic rather than just someone who enjoys a drink.
Examples in context
- Trinken Sie grünen Tee?Are you drinking green tea?This sentence is useful for asking if someone is drinking green tea.Tatoeba #1986255 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1867443 by CM
- Sie trinken immer allein.You're always drinking alone.This sentence is useful for stating that someone is always drinking alone.Tatoeba #6294101 by Naina, translation #2208548 by CK
- Die Vögel trinken Wasser.The birds are drinking water.This sentence is useful for describing birds drinking water.Tatoeba #12576790 by Waldelfe, translation #10961079 by CK
- Ich trinke WasserI am drinking water
- Die Gäste konsumieren alkoholische GetränkeThe guests are consuming alcoholic drinks
- Lass uns heute Abend etwas trinken und feiern!Let's drink and party tonight!
- 175 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Hannah are talking about their plans for the evening.
- LukasLust auf ein kleines Trinken heute Abend?Feel like a quick drink tonight?
- HannahJa, ich komme gerne mit, Lukas.Yes, I'd love to come along, Lukas.
- LukasTreffen wir uns beim Trinken in der Stadt?Shall we meet for drinks in town?
- HannahDas passt mir gut, Hannah sieht dich dort.That works for me, Hannah will see you there.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “drinking” translations and entries Trinken, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
