How to say amounts in German
In a German shopping list, the amount comes first and the food comes right after it, with no word for “of”. You will see these amounts in every game:
einen Liter Milch
a liter of milk
ein Kilo Äpfel
a kilo of apples
eine Packung Reis
a pack of rice
ein Glas Honig
a jar of honey
eine Flasche Wasser
a bottle of water
ein Stück Butter
a block of butter
Why it is einen Liter but eine Flasche
The article belongs to the unit, not to the food. The thing you buy is the object of the sentence, so it takes the accusative case, and only masculine words change: der Liter becomes einen Liter. Feminine and neuter units stay the same: eine Flasche, ein Glas.
After a number, Kilo, Liter, and Stück do not change: zwei Kilo Äpfel, drei Liter Milch. Other units take a plural: zwei Flaschen Wein, zwei Gläser Honig. After every message, the game shows the amounts again with a short note. The guide to the German cases explains the accusative in more detail.
What the cashier asks
From the third message, the cashier asks you one question before you pay. Pick the answer that fits. A wrong answer costs you the tip, but not a strike.
Brauchen Sie eine Tüte?
Do you need a bag?
Nein, danke. Ich habe eine.
No, thanks. I have one.
Bar oder mit Karte?
Cash or card?
Mit Karte, bitte.
By card, please.
Möchten Sie den Kassenbon?
Would you like the receipt?
Ja, den Bon, bitte.
Yes, the receipt, please.
Haben Sie eine Kundenkarte?
Do you have a loyalty card?
Nein, ich habe keine Kundenkarte.
No, I don't have a loyalty card.
Ist das alles?
Is that everything?
Ja, das ist alles.
Yes, that's everything.
Then the cashier tells you the price, and you pick the amount to pay. Germans say the euros first, then the cents, and the ones come before the tens: Das macht sieben Euro neunundvierzig is 7,49 €, not 7,94 €. Prices under one euro are said in cents: neunundvierzig Cent is 0,49 €. Our guide to German numbers covers the number words you need.
Messages that change at the end
Later messages are harder. Some add one more thing (und noch, and also), change a number (ach nein, drei!, oh no, three!), or take something back (doch keinen Reis, no rice after all). Some say what is still at home (Milch haben wir noch, we still have milk), so you should not buy it. Read the whole message before you fill the cart.
All the products come from our food and drinks vocabulary list. If you like this game, try Café Berlin, where you serve customers who order in German.
