Eis
/aɪ̯s/neuter
Ice cream in German is Eis. Wiktionary also lists Eiscreme and Speiseeis.
Meaning: dessert (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Eis | /aɪ̯s/ /ʔeː.ɪs/ |
neuter |
| Eiscreme | /ˈʔaɪ̯skʁeːm/ | feminine |
| Speiseeis | /ˈʃpaɪ̯zəˌʔaɪ̯s/ | neuter |
When ordering at a cafe or shop, people almost always use Eis rather than the longer Eiscreme or Speiseeis.
Which one should you use?
Speiseeis is a more technical or formal term used to distinguish edible ice cream from ice used for cooling. You may also encounter Eiscreme.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of Southern Germany and Switzerland, the term Rahmeis might be used frequently to mean cream ice cream.
How do you pronounce it?
/aɪ̯s/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often forget that Eis is a neuter noun, so they might incorrectly use der or die instead of das.
Did you know?
- In Germany, the tradition of Eisdiele shops was heavily influenced by Italian immigrants after World War II, meaning many ice cream parlors still use Italian names and styles.
- While Eis refers to the dessert, the phrase eiskalt is used to describe something that is freezing cold or a person who is emotionally distant.
- German uses the word Eis in the idiom auf dünnem Eis tanzen, which means to take a great risk, similar to the English 'walking on thin ice'.
Examples in context
- Er mag kein Eis.He does not care for ice cream.This sentence shows the use of Eis to express a preference.Tatoeba #828433 by Zaghawa, translation #288683 by CK
- Das ist ein Eis.It's an ice cream.This sentence uses Eis to identify an item.Tatoeba #5229892 by jaz1313, translation #5228526 by solejar
- Er isst ein Eis.He's eating an ice cream.This sentence shows someone eating Eis.Tatoeba #11866338 by Naina, translation #7851637 by shekitten
- Ich möchte gerne ein Eis bestellen, bitte.I would like to order an ice cream, please.
- Vanille-Speiseeis ist mein Favorit!Vanilla ice cream is my favorite!
- Haben Sie eine Empfehlung für ein leckeres Eis?Do you have a recommendation for a delicious ice cream?
- Welche Eissorten haben Sie zur Auswahl?Which ice cream flavors do you have available?
- Ich mag am liebsten Schokoladeneis.I like chocolate ice cream the most.
- Was ist dein Lieblingseis?What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
- 197 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Laura and Felix are walking through a park on a hot day.
- LauraEs ist so heiß heute.It is so hot today.
- FelixWollen wir ein Eis essen?Do you want to eat an ice cream?
- LauraJa, das ist eine gute Idee!Yes, that is a good idea!
- FelixIch hole das Eis für uns.I will get the ice cream for us.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ice cream” translations and entries Eis, Eiscreme, Speiseeis, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
