The idea
“Es sich schmecken lassen” is a fixed expression: lass es dir schmecken (du), lasst es euch schmecken (ihr), lassen Sie es sich schmecken (Sie). The reflexive pronoun is dative. “Guten Appetit” is accusative because it is short for “Ich wünsche euch einen guten Appetit”. A common reply is “Danke, gleichfalls” or “Danke, euch auch”. Bereitstehen means to be ready and waiting.
Other ways to say it
“Guten Appetit allerseits!” – Neutral; addresses everyone at the table at once.
“Lassen Sie es sich schmecken.” – Formal Sie version; for guests you do not know well or in a restaurant.
“Mahlzeit!” – Casual, common at work around lunchtime; some people find it too informal.
Examples
- Lasst es euch schmecken, die Suppe steht bereit.Enjoy your meal; the soup is ready.
- Danke, sie duftet schon sehr gut.Thanks; it already smells very good.
- Ich wünsche euch einen guten Appetit.I hope you enjoy your meal.
- Setzt du dich noch zu uns?Will you sit down with us too?
- Ja, ich hole nur schnell meinen Teller.Yes, I will just get my plate quickly.
- Dann fangen wir gemeinsam an zu essen.Then let us start eating together.
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Watch out
“Lasst euch es schmecken.” → “Lasst es euch schmecken.”: In this fixed phrase the short pronoun es comes before the reflexive euch. Swapping them sounds wrong to German ears.
Try it yourself
Translate into German: Enjoy your meal; the soup is ready.
Show answer or example answer
Lasst es euch schmecken, die Suppe steht bereit.
Lasst is the ihr imperative of lassen; euch is dative. The second clause gives the reason: the soup is ready and waiting.
Put the words in order: Appetit / einen / euch / guten / Ich / wünsche
Show answer or example answer
Ich wünsche euch einen guten Appetit.
Wünschen takes euch in the dative and einen guten Appetit in the accusative, because Appetit is masculine.
Write this sentence in German: Then let us start eating together.
Show answer or example answer
Dann fangen wir gemeinsam an zu essen.
“Anfangen zu + infinitive”: the separable fangen … an frames gemeinsam, and “zu essen” comes after it. Dann starts the sentence, so fangen comes second.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
Translate into German: Enjoy your meal; the soup is ready.
Lasst es euch schmecken, die Suppe steht bereit.
Put the words in order: Appetit / einen / euch / guten / Ich / wünsche
Ich wünsche euch einen guten Appetit.
Write this sentence in German: Then let us start eating together.
Dann fangen wir gemeinsam an zu essen.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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You have cooked pasta for three friends. Tell them the food is ready, wish them a good meal with “es sich schmecken lassen”, and invite the last one to sit down.