Meaning
To eat the midday meal.
Cultural Background
The 'Mittagspause' is legally protected. Most employees have 30-60 minutes to eat, and it is culturally frowned upon to work through it. In Austria, lunch is often called 'Mittagessen' or 'Jause' (if it's a smaller snack), but 'zu Mittag essen' remains the standard verb phrase. The Swiss 'Mittagessen' is very punctual, often starting exactly at 12:00. It is a time for family or team bonding.
The 'Mahlzeit' Rule
If you see someone eating lunch, just say 'Mahlzeit!' instead of 'Guten Appetit' in an office setting.
Capitalization
Always capitalize 'Mittag' because it is a noun, even though it's part of this verbal phrase.
Meaning
To eat the midday meal.
The 'Mahlzeit' Rule
If you see someone eating lunch, just say 'Mahlzeit!' instead of 'Guten Appetit' in an office setting.
Capitalization
Always capitalize 'Mittag' because it is a noun, even though it's part of this verbal phrase.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct form of 'essen'.
Du ____ heute sehr spät zu Mittag.
The subject 'du' requires the irregular form 'isst'.
Which sentence is correct?
How do you say 'I am eating lunch'?
'zu Mittag essen' is the fixed idiom.
Match the German to the English.
Match the meal times.
These are the three main meal verbs/phrases.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Wann ____ wir heute? B: Um ein Uhr.
In a question, the verb 'essen' comes first, followed by the subject and then 'zu Mittag'.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
German Meal Times
Morgens
- • frühstücken
Mittags
- • zu Mittag essen
Abends
- • zu Abend essen
Practice Bank
4 exercisesDu ____ heute sehr spät zu Mittag.
The subject 'du' requires the irregular form 'isst'.
How do you say 'I am eating lunch'?
'zu Mittag essen' is the fixed idiom.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are the three main meal verbs/phrases.
A: Wann ____ wir heute? B: Um ein Uhr.
In a question, the verb 'essen' comes first, followed by the subject and then 'zu Mittag'.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
2 questionsYes, but it sounds slightly less natural than 'Ich esse zu Mittag'.
No, it is neutral and used by everyone from children to CEOs.
Related Phrases
frühstücken
similarto eat breakfast
zu Abend essen
similarto eat dinner
Mittag machen
informalto take a lunch break
