lecker
/ˈlɛkɐ/
The German word for tasty is lecker.
The word lecker is used to describe food or drink that has a pleasant flavor.
Which one should you use?
While lecker is a common way to say something is tasty, you might encounter schmackhaft, which is a more formal and sophisticated synonym used in written reviews or formal culinary contexts. For a very high level of praise, the formal term Köstlich means delicious.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In southern Germany and Austria, you may hear the dialectal expression gschmackig to mean tasty or flavorful.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that something is tastier, use the comparative form leckerer.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈlɛkɐ/
Did you know?
- In many parts of Germany, if you call a person lecker, you are not complimenting their cooking, but instead suggesting they are 'tasty' or 'delicious' in a highly suggestive, sexualized way.
- The word lecker is actually a relative of the English verb 'to lick'. Its ancient roots point back to a word meaning 'to lick', suggesting that something tasty is something worth licking up.
- In some German dialects, the word lecker can ironically be used to describe something that tastes bad, often delivered with a specific sarcastic tone.
Examples in context
- Das Obst ist lecker.The fruit is tasty.This sentence shows how to use lecker to describe fruit.Tatoeba #8320514 by MisterTrouser, translation #12807485 by rul
- Der Kaffee ist lecker.The coffee is tasty.This sentence shows how to use lecker to describe coffee.Tatoeba #8320535 by MisterTrouser, translation #12807518 by rul
- Alles war sehr lecker.Everything was very tasty.This sentence shows how to use lecker to describe an entire meal or experience.Tatoeba #12293766 by mayabe, translation #11516368 by totpreussen
- Das Essen ist sehr lecker.The food is very tasty.
- Die Speisen hier sind absolut köstlich.The dishes here are absolutely delicious.
- Das Kuchenstück ist echt lecker!The piece of cake is really tasty!
- Das Essen gestern war wahnsinnig schmackhaft.The food yesterday was insanely tasty.
- Der Fisch hier ist ein wahrer Leckerbissen.The fish here is a true delicacy.
- leckerer ApfelTasty apple
- Die Suppe schmeckt absolut köstlich.The soup tastes absolutely delicious.
- 16 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sarah and Maximilian are eating dinner together.
- SarahProbier mal, die Pasta ist echt lecker!Try some, the pasta is really tasty!
- MaximilianJa, das schmeckt wirklich super.Yes, that tastes really great.
- SarahIch gebe dir das Rezept.I will give you the recipe.
- MaximilianDanke, Sarah, das wäre toll.Thanks, Sarah, that would be great.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry lecker, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lecker, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
