21 December 2025
How do you say plate in German?
It’s what holds your dinner, clinks when you’re setting the table, and stacks in the sink after a good meal. In German, it’s der Teller. This is your German Word of the Day - practical, everyday, and a must-know for anyone eating, cooking, or doing dishes in a German-speaking home.
The noun Teller means plate, and it’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German. Whether you’re at a restaurant, a dinner party, or just grabbing a snack, this word will come up.
It’s a masculine noun, so we say der Teller (want to stop guessing genders? Our video lesson makes it all click).
Pronunciation
Teller is pronounced [TEL-uh]
-
Tel like “tell”
-
The final -er is usually lightly vocalized, roughly like the a in sofa; pronunciation varies by speaker.
-
Stress on the first syllable: TELler
Example sentences
-
Der Teller ist noch warm.The plate is still warm.
-
Stell den Teller auf den Tisch.Put the plate on the table.
-
Sie hat drei Teller Suppe gegessen.She ate three plates of soup.
Nuance and usage tips
Teller refers to a dinner plate by default, but is also used in idioms and expressions.
🍽️ Types of plates:
-
Suppenteller - soup plate (deep)
-
Essteller - dinner plate
-
Frühstücksteller - breakfast plate (smaller)
-
Kinderteller - kid’s plate (often with smaller portions in restaurants)
-
Plastikteller / Pappteller - plastic or paper plate
🗣️ Common expressions:
-
über den Tellerrand schauen - to look beyond your own horizon (to think outside the box)
-
den Teller leer essen - to clean your plate
-
etwas auf dem Teller lassen - to leave something on the plate
How does this word come up in real conversations?
-
“Kannst du mir einen Teller holen?”Can you grab me a plate?
-
“Ich hab den Teller leer gegessen.”I finished everything on the plate.
-
“Warum stehen hier zehn Teller?”Why are there ten plates here?
Sample Dialogue (Beginner Level)
Sami: Wo sind die Teller?Emma: Im Schrank über der Spüle.Sami: Brauchst du einen flachen oder tiefen?Emma: Einen tiefen - für die Suppe.
Translation:Sami: Where are the plates?Emma: In the cupboard above the sink.Sami: Do you need a flat or a deep one?Emma: A deep one - for the soup.
Grammatical case examples
Nominative:Der Teller ist kaputt.The plate is broken.
Accusative:Ich spüle den Teller gleich ab.I’ll wash the plate in a minute.
Dative:Das Besteck liegt auf dem Teller.The cutlery is on the plate.
Genitive:Die Farbe des Tellers ist abgeplatzt.The finish on the plate has chipped.
Word variations and language tidbits
-
Tellerservice - tableware set
-
Tellergericht - plated dish (as opposed to buffet)
-
Tellerwäscher - dishwasher (person): vom Tellerwäscher zum Millionär = from rags to riches
-
Tellerstapel - stack of plates
-
Saucenspiegel - a thin layer of sauce used when arranging food on a plate
🍽️ Fun fact: In Germany, it’s common to eat meals where everyone has their own Teller, and the idea of sharing plates (as in some other cultures) is often unusual unless you specifically ask.
📘 Duden entry: https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Teller🎥 Want to stack your vocab plate high? Our free video course teaches the 1000 most common German nouns with examples, visuals, and practical grammar help.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?Do you know what Termin means? For a restaurant table, you usually make a Reservierung; a Termin is an appointment.And what about Thema? There’s always a new one served with every full Teller.
Free download
Get the 1000 Most Frequently Used German Nouns ebook - free.
Leave your email and I’ll send you a link to the ebook. You’ll also get my occasional German-learning tips. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Comments
Loading comments…