Menü
/meˈnyː/
The German word for menu is Menü.
In a German restaurant context, Menü often implies a fixed-price multi-course meal (e.g., a 3-course menu) rather than just a list of options.
Meaning: list of dishes offered in a restaurant (noun)
Which one should you use?
While Menü often refers to a fixed multi-course meal, Speisekarte is the more common word for the physical list of all dishes available in a restaurant. Similarly, Karte is a formal term used to refer to a menu.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Menü is die Menüs, and the genitive singular form is des Menüs.
How do you pronounce it?
/meˈnyː/
Did you know?
- The German word Menü and the English word 'minute' share an ancestral connection to the same French root, making them linguistic doublets.
- If you ask for the Karte in a German restaurant, you are using a shorthand for Speisekarte, which literally translates to 'food card'.
- German uses the word Speise in Speisekarte, a slightly formal term for food that you will rarely hear in casual daily conversation.
Examples in context
- Was ist das heutige Menü?What's today's menu?This sentence demonstrates how to ask about the current day's menu using Menü.Tatoeba #1462137 by Esperantostern, translation #703099 by papabear
- Kellner, geben Sie uns bitte das Menü!Waiter, please give us the menu.This sentence shows a request for the menu using Menü.Tatoeba #12163295 by Tc14, translation #11837292 by Lemmih
- Haben Sie ein spezielles Menü für Vegetarier?Do you have a special menu for vegetarians?This sentence shows how to inquire about a specific vegetarian Menü.Tatoeba #1134778 by jakov, translation #244209 by papabear
- Ich würde gerne die Speisekarte sehen.I would like to see the menu.
- Können Sie mir bitte die Karte bringen?Could you please bring me the menu?
- Welche Gerichte gibt es auf der Tageskarte?What dishes are on the daily menu?
- Lass uns in die Pizzeria gehen. Hast du die Speisenkarte schon gesehen?Let's go to the pizzeria. Have you seen the menu already?
- Kannst du mir bitte die Essenskarte zeigen?Can you please show me the menu?
- Entschuldigung, könnten Sie uns bitte die Speisekarte bringen?Excuse me, could you please bring us the menu?
- Haben Sie eine Tageskarte mit Empfehlungen des Küchenchefs?Do you have a daily menu with the chef's recommendations?
- Zeig mir bitte die Speisenkarte, ich möchte gern etwas Neues ausprobieren.Please show me the menu, I would like to try something new.
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felix and Julia are sitting at a restaurant table.
- FelixHast du schon das Menü gesehen?Have you seen the menu yet?
- JuliaNein, ich warte noch darauf.No, I am still waiting for it.
- FelixHier ist das Menü für uns.Here is the menu for us.
- JuliaDanke, Felix. Das sieht gut aus.Thanks, Felix. That looks good.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry Menü, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Menü, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
