Guten Appetit
In German, 'enjoy your food' is expressed as Guten Appetit.
Guten Appetit is a common way to wish someone a pleasant meal before they begin eating.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'good appetite'.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase Guten Appetit, the word Guten is in the accusative masculine form because it is an elliptical expression for 'Ich wünsche dir/Ihnen einen guten Appetit' (I wish you a good appetite).
When do people say it?
When someone says Guten Appetit, a common way to respond is Danke, gleichfalls! if the other person is also eating. If you are being served food and are not eating with the person who spoke, you should simply respond with Danke! The expression Mahlzeit! is often used specifically during lunchtime.
Did you know?
- The word Appetit is a relative of the English word 'appetite', but both originate from the Latin word appetītus, meaning 'to assail' or 'to strive after'.
- In some German workplaces, Mahlzeit functions as a general greeting between 11 am and 2 pm, even if no one is currently eating.
- While Guten Appetit is standard, some traditionalist circles consider wishing someone a 'good appetite' to be impolite because it focuses on the physical urge to eat rather than the quality of the food.
Examples in context
- Guten Appetit!Enjoy your food.This sentence demonstrates how to use Guten Appetit.Tatoeba #1211 by Dorenda, translation #4430565 by Zaher
- Danke, gleichfalls!Thank you, likewise!
- Guten Appetit zusammen!Enjoy your meal, everyone!
Example conversation
Maximilian and Laura are sitting down for dinner.
- MaximilianDas Essen sieht toll aus, Laura.The food looks great, Laura.
- LauraDanke, Maximilian! Guten Appetit.Thanks, Maximilian! Enjoy your meal.
- MaximilianDanke, gleichfalls!Thanks, you too!
- LauraLass es dir schmecken.Enjoy it.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Appetit, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
