Kellner
/ˈkɛlnɐ/masculine
The German word for waiter is Kellner. Wiktionary also lists Kellnerin.
Meaning: a server in a restaurant or similar (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Kellner | /ˈkɛlnɐ/ | masculine |
| Kellnerin | /ˈkɛlnəʁɪn/ | feminine |
The term refers to a person who serves food and drinks in a restaurant or a similar establishment.
Which one should you use?
Kellner is the masculine form used for a male waiter. Use Kellnerin specifically when referring to a female waiter.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In regions like Bavaria, Austria and parts of Switzerland, it is common to use Herr Ober to call a waiter.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Kellner is also Kellner.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkɛlnɐ/
When do people say it?
In certain regions such as Bavaria, Austria and parts of Switzerland, people often use the phrase Herr Ober to get a waiter's attention.
Did you know?
- The word Kellner actually traces its roots back to a person in charge of a wine cellar or pantry rather than someone serving tables. It stems from the Latin cellārium, which refers to a storage room.
- In many German restaurants, it is considered impolite to snap your fingers or whistle to get a Kellner's attention.
- In high-end traditional dining, a Kellner might be referred to as a Oberkellner, which denotes a head waiter with specific training.
Examples in context
- Ich bin Ihr Kellner.I'm your waiter.This sentence is useful for introducing yourself as a waiter.Tatoeba #7432511 by MisterTrouser, translation #2248329 by CK
- Da kommt der Kellner.Here comes the waiter.This sentence is useful for announcing the arrival of a waiter.Tatoeba #12458023 by Waldelfe, translation #1850973 by Dottyeyes
- Tom war damals Kellner.Tom was a waiter at that time.This sentence is useful for describing someone's past profession as a waiter.Tatoeba #5377351 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #5374965 by CK
- 78 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Maximilian are sitting in a restaurant.
- JuliaWo ist der Kellner?Where is the waiter?
- MaximilianDer Kellner kommt gleich zu uns.The waiter is coming to us soon.
- JuliaIch bin sehr hungrig.I am very hungry.
- MaximilianIch auch, Julia.Me too, Julia.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “waiter” translations and entries Kellner, Kellnerin, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Kellner, Kellnerin, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
