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Kitchen words in German: 40 words to know

Last updated July 7, 2026 · 7 min read

Here are 40 essential German kitchen words, each with its der/die/das article and plural form. The list covers cookware, appliances, and everyday food — die Tasse (cup), das Messer (knife), der Herd (stove) — with a pronunciation guide so you can say each one out loud, not just recognize it on a page.

GermanPluralPronunciationEnglish
die Tassedie TassenTASS-ehcup
der Tellerdie TellerTELL-erplate
die Gabeldie GabelnGAH-buhlfork
das Messerdie MesserMESS-erknife
der Löffeldie LöffelLUR-felspoon
der Topfdie TöpfeTOPFpot
die Pfannedie PfannenPFAH-nehpan / skillet
der Kühlschrankdie KühlschränkeKUEL-shrahnkrefrigerator
der Herddie HerdeHAIRTstove
der Backofendie BacköfenBAHK-oh-fenoven
die Mikrowelledie MikrowellenMEE-kroh-VEL-ehmicrowave
die Spüledie SpülenSHPUE-lehsink
die Flaschedie FlaschenFLAH-shehbottle
das Glasdie GläserGLAHSSglass
die Serviettedie Serviettenzer-vee-EH-tehnapkin
die Tischdeckedie TischdeckenTISH-deck-ehtablecloth
der Tischdie TischeTISHtable
der Stuhldie StühleSHTOOLchair
die Schüsseldie SchüsselnSHUE-selbowl
der Messbecherdie MessbecherMESS-beck-ermeasuring cup
das Schneidebrettdie SchneidebretterSHNY-deh-bretcutting board
der Dosenöffnerdie DosenöffnerDOH-zen-URF-nercan opener
der Korkenzieherdie KorkenzieherKOR-ken-TSEE-ercorkscrew
der Mixerdie MixerMIX-erblender
der Toasterdie ToasterTOH-stertoaster
die Kaffeemaschinedie KaffeemaschinenKAH-feh-mah-SHEE-nehcoffee maker
der Wasserkocherdie WasserkocherVAH-ser-KOKH-erkettle
der Schwammdie SchwämmeSHVAHMsponge
die Seifedie SeifenZY-fehsoap
der Müll– (no plural)MUELtrash / garbage
der Mülleimerdie MülleimerMUEL-eye-mertrash can
die Orangedie Orangenoh-RAHNG-zhehorange
die Bananedie Bananenbah-NAH-nehbanana
das Brotdie BroteBROHTbread
die Milch– (no plural)MILHmilk
das Eidie EierEYEegg
das Öldie ÖleURLoil
das Salz– (no plural)ZAHLTSsalt
der Zucker– (no plural)TSOO-kersugar
die Vorratskammerdie VorratskammernFOR-rahts-kah-merpantry
Every plural takes "die." Whatever a noun's singular article — der, die, or das — the plural article is always die: der Topf becomes die Töpfe, das Glas becomes die Gläser. You still have to learn the plural form itself (Töpfe, not Topfs), but you never have to guess the plural's article, only its ending. And a compound like der Kühlschrank breaks down cleanly: kühl (cool) + Schrank (cabinet) — a "cool cabinet."

Phrases you can actually say

  1. Die Tasse steht auf dem Tisch. — The cup is on the table.
  2. Wo ist der Dosenöffner? — Where's the can opener?
  3. Ich brauche einen sauberen Löffel. — I need a clean spoon.
  4. Der Kaffee ist in der Kaffeemaschine. — The coffee is in the coffee maker.
  5. Stell den Teller in die Spüle. — Put the plate in the sink.
  6. Die Milch ist im Kühlschrank. — The milk is in the fridge.
  7. Ich wasche die Pfanne. — I'm washing the pan.
  8. Kannst du mir bitte das Salz geben? — Can you pass me the salt, please?

Catch them instead of memorizing them

A list like this is a starting point, not the finish line. The fastest way to make these words — and their articles — stick is to photograph the actual objects in your own kitchen. Point your camera at your cup, your knife, your stove, and CatchFrase names it in German with the article already attached, reads it aloud, and builds an example sentence around it, so der/die/das arrives glued to the object instead of memorized from a table.

Each catch becomes a collectible card with the word, its plural, a phrase, audio, and a spot in your review queue. Spaced-repetition review (CatchFrase calls it smart review) brings each word back just before you'd forget it, so you're not re-reading this list next week hoping the article stuck.

Being honest about the free tier: it's 10 catches a day, so a full kitchen — cup, plate, fork, knife, spoon, pot, pan, fridge, stove, sink, and the rest — takes about 4 days at that pace. That's still faster than most people learn a kitchen's worth of German vocabulary any other way, and there's no account required to start.

Common questions

Do I need to memorize der, die, and das before I start?

No. Every word in this list already has its article attached, and that's how CatchFrase teaches new words too — the article arrives with the noun, not as a separate rule to apply later.

Why does the plural column matter so much in German?

Because German plurals aren't a single suffix like English "-s." Der Topf becomes die Töpfe, das Glas becomes die Gläser, and der Teller stays der Teller in the singular but die Teller in the plural — each pattern has to be learned with the word, not guessed from a rule.

Is CatchFrase free to use for this?

Yes. The free tier includes 10 catches a day, a 75-card collection, and daily review — enough to work through a kitchen's worth of objects over a few days. CatchFrase Plus adds unlimited catches and deeper practice.

Your kitchen is 40 words waiting to be caught.

Free to start — 10 catches a day, no account needed. Photos never leave your phone except to name the word.

Get CatchFraseon the App Store

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