mitnehmen
/ˈmɪtˌneːmən/
The German way to say 'take away' is mitnehmen.
The verb mitnehmen is used to indicate that something is being taken along or removed to a different place. In the specific context of food and drink, it is used to indicate that items are for consumption elsewhere rather than inside the establishment.
Meaning: to remove something and put it in a different place (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
As a separable verb, the prefix mit- moves to the end of the clause in a simple main clause, such as Er nimmt den Kaffee mit (He takes the coffee along). The past participle is mitgenommen. When you want to say something is 'for take away' (for example, at a restaurant), the verb is nominalized into the noun phrase zum Mitnehmen, which uses the neuter article zum (a contraction of zu and dem).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmɪtˌneːmən/
Did you know?
- If you want to say 'take away' in the sense of 'subtracting' a number in math, you would never use mitnehmen, but rather 'abziehen' or 'subtrahieren'.
- While 'mitnehmen' is common for food, if you are actually 'taking away' a person or a pet, you would likely use 'entführen' if the context implies kidnapping.
- If you are 'taking away' a feeling or a memory, you would use 'mitnehmen' metaphorically, as if you are carrying that experience in your luggage.
Examples in context
- Hier oder zum Mitnehmen?To eat in or take away?This example shows how to ask if food is for eating in or taking away using the form mitnehmen.Tatoeba #2755656 by Zaghawa, translation #8859108 by sundown
- Für hier oder zum Mitnehmen?Is that to eat here or to take away?This example shows how to ask if an order is for here or to take away using the form mitnehmen.Tatoeba #596543 by samueldora, translation #11994408 by sundown
- Zum hier Essen oder Mitnehmen?To eat here or take away?This example shows how to ask if one is eating here or taking away using the form mitnehmen.Tatoeba #2159662 by Vortarulo, translation #8859109 by sundown
- Ich möchte bitte das Essen mitnehmen.I would like to take the food away, please.
- Haben Sie diesen Kaffee zum Mitnehmen?Do you have this coffee to take away?
- Können wir die Pizza mitnehmen?Can we take the pizza away?
- Ich hätte gerne einen Burger to go, bitte.I would like a burger to go, please.
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Laura and Felix are at a cafe at the end of the day.
- LauraSoll ich die Kekse mitnehmen?Should I take the cookies with me?
- FelixJa, bitte nimm sie mit.Yes, please take them with you.
- LauraIch werde sie mitnehmen, Felix.I will take them with me, Felix.
- FelixDas ist eine gute Idee.That is a good idea.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry mitnehmen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
