njam
/njam/
The English phrase "yum" can be expressed in German as njam. Wiktionary also lists mjam.
Meaning: indicating delight at the flavor of food (intj)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| njam | /njam/ |
| mjam | /mjam/ |
The words are used to indicate delight at the flavor of food. You can use them as interjections or as informal adjectives meaning "delicious".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Bavaria, locals often use the phrase Mmhh, is des guad! to mean "Mmm, this is good!"
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/njam/
Did you know?
- Unlike the English 'yum', which is quite standard, using njam in German can sometimes feel slightly more childlike or playful.
- In many German-speaking regions, making a soft humming sound like 'mhh' while eating is a common non-verbal way to signal that a meal is 'njam'.
- The German njam is an onomatopoeic word, meaning it was created to mimic the actual sound of someone eating something pleasant.
Examples in context
- Njam, das ist lecker!Yum, that is delicious!
Example conversation
Maximilian and Julia are eating dessert together.
- MaximilianProbier mal diesen Nachtisch, Julia.Try this dessert, Julia.
- JuliaNjam, der ist ja super süß!Yum, it's so sweet!
- MaximilianIch finde ihn auch sehr lecker.I think it's very delicious too.
- JuliaDanke für das tolle Dessert, Maximilian.Thanks for the great dessert, Maximilian.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yum” translations and entries njam, mjam, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries njam, CC BY-SA 4.0.
