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How to Say ‘I'd like a cappuccino.’ in German

Ich hätte gern einen Cappuccino.

ikh HET-uh gairn EYE-nen kah-poo-chee-noh

[ikh HET-uh gairn EYE-nen kah-poo-chee-noh]

💬 Usage Tip: Ich hätte gern plus any item is the all-purpose polite way to order. Masculine items take einen, so einen Kaffee, but eine Cola, ein Wasser.

🇩🇪 In Germany: This is the standard, polite counter order in Germany. Saying just einen Cappuccino, bitte is equally normal and not rude.

Phrase Breakdown

Ich hätte gern

ikh HET-uh gairn

I would like

This is the polite standard way to order. 'Hätte' has an 'ä' like the 'e' in 'bed': 'HET-te'.

Example

Ich hätte gern ein Wasser.

I'd like a water.

Words in this phrase

Ich

[ikh]

The pronoun 'ich' in nominative form.

Example

Ich bin da.

I am here.

hätte

[HET-uh]

would have

A conditional phrase indicating possibility.

Example

Er hätte es besser machen können.

He could have done it better.

gern

[gairn]

gladly (with 'hätte': would like)

Combined with 'hätte' it forms a polite way to order or ask for something.

Example

Ich hätte gern ein Wasser.

I would like a water.

einen Cappuccino.

EYE-nen kah-poo-chee-noh

a cappuccino.

'Einen' is the masculine accusative of 'a'. Say 'Cappuccino' the Italian way: 'kap-pu-TSCHEE-no'.

Example

Er trinkt jeden Morgen einen Cappuccino.

He drinks a cappuccino every morning.

Words in this phrase

einen

[EYE-nen]

Indefinite article before a masculine accusative noun.

Example

Ich plane einen kurzen Austausch nächste Woche.

I am planning a short exchange next week.

Cappuccino

[kah-poo-chee-noh]

cappuccino

A coffee drink made with espresso and topped with foamed milk.

Example

Ein Cappuccino wäre toll.

A cappuccino would be great.

Guides for German learners

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