Lebensmittel
/ˈleːbənsˌmɪtəl/neuter, plural
The German word for groceries is Lebensmittel.
Lebensmittel is used to refer to all consumable food and drink items, not just those bought at a specific 'grocery store'.
Meaning: commodities sold by a grocer or in a grocery (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of Leben (life) and Mittel (means/resources), literally meaning 'means of life'.
How does it change in a sentence?
While used as a plural noun for 'groceries', the singular form das Lebensmittel refers to a single food item or commodity.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈleːbənsˌmɪtəl/
Did you know?
- While Lebensmittel covers food, Germans use the word Leergut to describe the 'empty goods' like glass bottles that must be returned to the store for a deposit.
- Shopping for Lebensmittel in Germany often involves a 'race' at the checkout, as cashiers are known for scanning items at a speed that often shocks foreign visitors.
- The word Mittel in Lebensmittel is a versatile term that can also mean 'remedy' or 'center', creating a linguistic link between food and medicine.
Examples in context
- Wo kaufst du deine Lebensmittel ein?Where do you buy groceries?Tatoeba #3561107 by Esperantostern, translation #9969442 by ddnktr
- Tom kann sich kaum Lebensmittel leisten.Tom can barely afford groceries.Tatoeba #12500958 by Waldelfe, translation #12496997 by CK
- Ich habe kaum genug Geld für Lebensmittel.I barely have enough money for groceries.Tatoeba #2435313 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2293496 by CK
- Ich gehe einkaufen und kaufe Lebensmittel.I'm going shopping and buying groceries.
- Meine Supermarkteinkäufe waren heute sehr teuer.My groceries from the supermarket were quite expensive today.
- Hast du Lust, gemeinsam Lebensmittel zu besorgen?Do you feel like getting groceries together?
- Ich gehe schnell meinen Einkauf erledigen.I'll quickly do my groceries/shopping.
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julian and Sarah are planning their shopping trip.
- JulianMüssen wir heute noch Lebensmittel kaufen?Do we still need to buy groceries today?
- SarahJa, unser Kühlschrank ist fast leer.Yes, our fridge is almost empty.
- JulianIch schreibe schnell eine Liste für die Lebensmittel.I will quickly write a list for the groceries.
- SarahDas ist eine gute Idee, Julian.That is a good idea, Julian.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “groceries” translations and entries Lebensmittel, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
