Eating out requires specific restaurant vocabulary. The menu is die Speisekarte, the waiter is der Kellner, and the bill is die Rechnung, used in the classic request "Die Rechnung, bitte" (The bill, please) or "Die Speisekarte, bitte" (The menu, please). A typical meal has three parts: die Vorspeise (starter), das Hauptgericht (main course), and der Nachtisch (dessert), as in "Als Vorspeise nehme ich Suppe" (As a starter I'll have soup), "Das Hauptgericht war lecker" (The main course was delicious), or "Zum Nachtisch gibt es Eis" (There's ice cream for dessert). Tableware includes der Teller (plate), das Glas (glass), die Gabel (fork), das Messer (knife), and der Löffel (spoon), used in sentences like "Ein Glas Wasser, bitte" (A glass of water, please) or "Ich brauche einen Löffel für die Suppe" (I need a spoon for the soup).
Useful restaurant phrases involve ordering, tasting, and complimenting the food. Bestellen means to order, as in "Ich möchte bestellen, bitte" (I'd like to order, please). Schmecken means to taste, used in the question "Wie schmeckt es dir?" (How does it taste to you?). Empfehlen means to recommend, as in "Was können Sie empfehlen?" (What can you recommend?). To praise a meal, the adjective lecker (tasty) is essential: "Das Essen war sehr lecker" (The food was very tasty). The waiter even confirms payment: "Der Kellner bringt die Rechnung" (The waiter brings the bill).
Administrative tasks at offices, hotels, and medical practices use a distinct set of words. Documents and tools include der Kalender (diary or calendar), das Formular (form), das Dokument (document), der Reisepass (passport), die Unterschrift (signature), and die Schlange (line or queue). Useful verbs are warten (to wait), as in "Bitte warten Sie einen Moment" (Please wait a moment); ausfüllen (to fill in), as in "Füllen Sie bitte das Formular aus" (Please fill in the form); and unterschreiben (to sign), as in "Unterschreiben Sie bitte hier" (Please sign here). Reservieren (to reserve), absagen (to cancel), and vereinbaren (to arrange) are used for appointments: "Ich möchte einen Tisch reservieren" (I'd like to reserve a table), "Ich muss den Termin absagen" (I have to cancel the appointment), or "Wir vereinbaren einen neuen Termin" (We'll arrange a new appointment). Medical consultations use die Sprechstunde (consultation hours), as in "Die Sprechstunde ist am Vormittag" (Consultation hours are in the morning), and urgent matters use dringend (urgent): "Das ist sehr dringend" (That is very urgent).
Finally, a group of everyday verbs covers many situations. Anfangen means to begin, as in "Der Kurs fängt um neun an" (The course starts at nine), while aufhören means to stop: "Hör bitte auf!" (Please stop!). Bleiben (to stay) appears in "Ich bleibe heute zu Hause" (I'm staying home today), and bringen (to bring) in "Bring bitte Brot mit" (Please bring some bread). Memory-related verbs include finden (to find), vergessen (to forget), sich erinnern (to remember), and verlieren (to lose), as in "Ich finde meinen Schlüssel nicht" (I can't find my key), "Ich habe deinen Namen vergessen" (I forgot your name), "Erinnerst du dich an ihn?" (Do you remember him?), and "Ich habe mein Ticket verloren" (I lost my ticket). Other essentials round out daily interactions: öffnen (to open), schließen (to close), ändern (to change), versuchen (to try), entscheiden (to decide), hoffen (to hope), meinen (to think or believe), and benutzen (to use), as in "Ich möchte meinen Termin ändern" (I'd like to change my appointment), "Wir müssen uns bald entscheiden" (We have to decide soon), "Ich hoffe, du kommst" (I hope you'll come), and "Darf ich dein Telefon benutzen?" (May I use your phone?).