nounnoun

das Essen, –

food

Nahrung, die Menschen oder Tiere zu sich nehmen, um satt zu werden und Energie zu haben.

Definition & meaning

Essen is most commonly the noun meaning food or a meal.

Food: something people eat.
Das Essen ist frisch. — “The food is fresh.”
Meal: food eaten at a particular time.
Das Essen ist um sieben fertig. — “The meal will be ready at seven.”

Essen can also be the name of Essen, a city in western Germany.

The verb meaning “to eat” is written lowercase: essen. Its infinitive can be used as a noun with das, as in Das Essen macht Spaß (“Eating is fun”).

Grammar & Word origin

das Essen is a neuter noun. It is usually used in the singular; a plural form, Essen, is possible when referring to different kinds of food or meals.

It comes from the verb essen (“to eat”), through the process of turning an infinitive into a noun. The verb descends from Old High German ezzan.

Synonyms & antonyms

die Nahrung means “nourishment” or “food” in a broad, often more formal or biological sense. It emphasizes what sustains the body.
die Speise means “dish” or “food” and can sound more formal or refer to a particular prepared item.
die Mahlzeit specifically means “meal”—food eaten at a particular time—rather than food in general.

There is no exact antonym for Essen. das Fasten (“fasting”) can be contrasted with eating, but it means abstaining from food, not the opposite of food itself.