Essen zum Mitnehmen
neuter
The English phrase 'takeaway' can be expressed in German as Essen zum Mitnehmen. If unsure, use Essen zum Mitnehmen. Wiktionary also lists Mitnehmspeise and Abholspeise.
Meaning: meal bought to be eaten elsewhere (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | Note |
|---|---|
| Essen zum Mitnehmen | neuter |
| Mitnehmspeise | feminine |
| Abholspeise | feminine |
| Mitnahmegericht | neuter |
The terms in this pack all refer to a meal bought to be eaten elsewhere. Essen zum Mitnehmen is the most common and natural way to describe a takeaway meal in everyday German.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase Essen zum Mitnehmen literally translates to 'food for taking along'.
Which one should you use?
Mitnahmegericht is neuter and Abholspeise is feminine. Mitnehmspeise is a feminine noun.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase Essen zum Mitnehmen, 'Mitnehmen' is a nominalized verb used as a noun.
Did you know?
- The word essen is a distant relative of the English word 'eat' and the Latin word edō. They all share a common ancestor from the Proto-Indo-European language spoken thousands of years ago.
- In some German regions, people use the word Imbiss to describe the place where you get a takeaway, which literally means 'a small bite'.
- While Essen zum Mitnehmen describes the food, Germans use the loanword Take-away primarily in urban centers or trendy cafes to sound more international.
Examples in context
- Ich hätte gerne ein Sandwich zum Mitnehmen bitte.I would like a sandwich to go, please.
- Könnte ich bitte eine Portion Spaghetti Bolognese als Mahlzeit zum Mitnehmen bekommen?Could I please have a portion of spaghetti Bolognese as a meal to go?
- Ich nehme einen Kaffee To Go, bitte!I'll take a coffee to go, please!
- Kann ich bitte zwei Körnerbrötchen zum Mitnehmen haben?Can I please have two whole wheat rolls to go?
- Das Essen zum Mitnehmen ist sehr günstig.The takeaway is very cheap.
- Ist das Essen zum Mitnehmen schon fertig?Is the takeaway ready already?
Example conversation
Maximilian and Hannah are deciding what to do for dinner at home.
- MaximilianIch habe heute keine Lust zu kochen.I don't feel like cooking today.
- HannahSollen wir uns ein Essen zum Mitnehmen holen?Should we get a takeaway?
- MaximilianJa, das ist eine gute Idee.Yes, that is a good idea.
- HannahIch schlage den italienischen Imbiss vor.I suggest the Italian snack bar.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “takeaway” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Essen, essen, mitnehmen, zum, CC BY-SA 4.0.
