How do you say Rice in German?

It’s one of the most basic foods around the world - and in German, it’s just as simple. The word for rice is Reis. You’ll see it on every menu and food package, and it pops up in everything from health advice to lunchbox planning. It’s also one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German!

Reis is a masculine noun, so the correct article is der - der Reis. Wondering how to keep German noun genders straight? Our quick and incredibly helpful 5-minute video lesson gives you smart, memorable ways to master der / die / das.

Real conversations where Reis might come up

Whether you’re ordering sushi, shopping at the supermarket, or checking your pantry, Reis is a go-to word for all kinds of dishes - especially in vegetarian or Asian meals.

- Hast du noch Reis zuhause?- Nur noch ein bisschen. Reicht für zwei Leute.(“Do you still have rice at home?” - “Just a little. Enough for two people.”)

Beginner sample dialogue

Max: Was kochen wir heute?Lena: Curry mit Reis.Max: Super! Ich liebe Reisgerichte.

(Max: What are we cooking today?Lena: Curry with rice.Max: Awesome! I love rice dishes.)

Grammar in action: How to use Reis

• Nominative: Der Reis ist fertig.(The rice is ready.)
• Accusative: Ich koche den Reis.(I’m cooking the rice.)
• Dative: Mit dem Reis schmeckt das Gericht besser.(With the rice, the dish tastes better.)
• Genitive: Die Farbe des Reises ist weiß.(The color of the rice is white.)

Still confused about all these endings? Our German grammar course explains the case system clearly - in English - and without overloading you with grammar talk.