In German
trinken
Meaning: to drink
Formal or informal? “Trinken” is the everyday verb for drink. For a drink in a bar or café, the noun is “das Getränk”.
Example sentences
IchtrinkejedenMorgenKaffee.
I drink coffee every morning.
TrinkstduWasser?
Do you drink water?
DieKindertrinkenMilch.
The children drink milk.
Grammar note
Regular endings: ich trinke, du trinkst, er trinkt, wir trinken. It's regular, so there's no stem change, and the du form keeps the -st: “trinkst”.
Common mistake
Keep the -st in the du form: “du trinkst”, not “du trinkt”. The ihr form “ihr trinkt” is the one without the extra s.
Quick check
Which form is correct for “you drink” (du)?
More words on this topic
Keep learning German
Practise it in a lesson →Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between “trinken” and “das Getränk”?
“Trinken” is the verb to drink, and “das Getränk” is the noun for a drink.
How do you order a drink politely in German?
“Ich hätte gern einen Kaffee, bitte.”, a polite way to order.