In German
Mittagessen
Meaning: lunch
Formal or informal? “Mittagessen” is the main meal at midday. “Zu Mittag essen” means to have lunch. For a snack at work, people say “Pause” or “Brotzeit”.
Example sentences
Das Mittagessen ist um zwölf Uhr.
Lunch is at twelve o'clock.
Wir essen zusammen zu Mittag.
We eat lunch together.
Was gibt es zum Mittagessen?
What's for lunch?
Grammar note
“Das Mittagessen” is neuter, so it takes “das” and “ein”. The verb phrase is “zu Mittag essen”, with “zu Mittag” as a fixed expression.
Common mistake
Don't say “Lunch” for the German meal. “Mittagessen” is the word, and “Mittag” alone means midday, not lunch.
Quick check
Which German word means “lunch”?
More words on this topic
Keep learning German
Practise it in a lesson →Frequently asked questions
How do you say “to have lunch” in German?
“Zu Mittag essen”.
What is “Brotzeit”?
A light snack, often bread, eaten during a break, especially in Bavaria.