The k before the n, which you can hear in German

1. 1
   Knie/kniː/

   kneenoun

   The joint in the middle of the leg where the leg bends.
2. 2
   Kneipe/ˈknaɪ̯pə/

   pubnoun

   A simple place where you drink.
3. 3
   Knödel/ˈknøːdəl/

   dumplingnoun

   A boiled, round dumpling made of dough.
4. 4
   Knoblauch/ˈknoːplaʊ̯x/iAlso said ˈknoːblaʊ̯x or ˈknɔplaʊ̯x.

   garlicnoun

   A strong-smelling bulb used for seasoning.
5. 5
   knusprig/ˈknʊspʁɪç/

   crispyadjective

   Hard and crackling when you bite into it.
6. 6
   knabbern/ˈknabɐn/

   to nibbleverb

   To eat small bites of something.
7. 7
   knacken/ˈknakən/

   to crackverb

   To break open a hard shell.
8. 8
   knipsen/ˈknɪpsən/

   to snapverb

   To take a photo.
9. 9
   knapp/knap/

   barelyadverb

   Only just.
10. 10
    Knopfdruck/ˈknɔpfdʁʊk/

    button pressnoun

    The pressing of a button.

The sentences

1. Mir tut seit gestern das Knie weh.

   My knee has hurt since yesterday.

2. Kennst du eine gute Kneipe in der Nähe?

   Do you know a good pub nearby?

3. Kann ich bitte noch einen Knödel dazu haben?

   Could I have another dumpling with that, please?

4. Ist in der Soße viel Knoblauch drin?

   Is there a lot of garlic in the sauce?

5. Die Kruste vom Braten ist schön knusprig.

   The crust on the roast is nice and crispy.

6. Wollen wir noch etwas zum Knabbern bestellen?

   Shall we order something to nibble on?

7. Kannst du mir die Nüsse hier knacken?

   Can you crack these nuts for me?

8. Soll ich ein Foto von uns knipsen?

   Shall I snap a photo of us?

9. Wir haben den letzten Tisch knapp bekommen.

   We just barely got the last table.

10. Ein gutes Bier gibt es nicht auf Knopfdruck.

    A good beer doesn't come at the push of a button.

Pronunciation

• Knie/kniː/

  Both the k and the n are pronounced, and the i is long.

• Knödel/ˈknøːdəl/

  The ö is long: lips round as for o, tongue as for e.

• Knoblauch/ˈknoːplaʊ̯x/

  The b in the middle sounds like a p.

• knusprig/ˈknʊspʁɪç/

  The -ig at the end sounds like the ch in ich.

• Knopfdruck/ˈknɔpfdʁʊk/

  The pf is a single sound: p and f directly together.

Good to know

Trinkgeld

In pubs and restaurants the service is included in the price, but people usually round up or leave about 5 to 10 % as a tip. You say the amount when paying instead of leaving the money on the table.

getrennt zahlen

You usually pay at the table, and the server often asks: "Zusammen oder getrennt?" (together or separate). Paying separately is common and no problem.

Stammtisch

Many pubs have a Stammtisch, a table where regulars sit on a regular basis. It is often marked with a sign, and it is better to ask before sitting down there.

Knödel

Knödel are found mostly in southern Germany and Bavaria, and they appear less often on menus in Berlin. They usually come as a side dish with roast meat and gravy.

Questions

How do you say "dumpling" in German?

The word is Knödel, a boiled, round dumpling made of dough. You can ask: "Kann ich bitte noch einen Knödel dazu haben?"

What does Kneipe mean in German?

A Kneipe is a simple place where you drink. You can ask someone: "Kennst du eine gute Kneipe in der Nähe?"

How do you ask if there is garlic in the sauce?

Say: "Ist in der Soße viel Knoblauch drin?" Knoblauch is a strong-smelling bulb used for seasoning.