Change a takeaway order in German

The idea

Ich hätte gern + noun is the most common polite way to order food and drink; it is Konjunktiv II of haben. Statt (instead of) is followed by a noun, often without an article in short orders: Reis statt Pommes. Die Beilage is the side dish. Derselbe/dieselbe/dasselbe means the same one: Die Soße bleibt dieselbe. Dazupacken is colloquial for adding something to the bag.

Other ways to say it

“Könnte ich statt der Pommes lieber Reis bekommen?” – Very polite; lieber shows a preference.

“Geht es noch, die Beilage zu tauschen?” – Casual question about whether a swap is still possible.

Examples

• Kann ich meine Bestellung noch ändern?Can I still change my order?
• Die Küche hat noch nicht angefangen.The kitchen has not started yet.
• Ich hätte gern Reis statt Pommes.I would like rice instead of chips.
• Die Soße bleibt aber dieselbe?But the sauce stays the same?
• Ja, nur die Beilage soll anders sein.Yes, only the side dish should change.
• Gut, dann packen wir Reis dazu.Good, then we will pack rice with it.

Watch out

“Ich habe gern Reis statt Pommes.” → “Ich hätte gern Reis statt Pommes.”: Ich habe gern Reis means I like rice in general. To order, you need the Konjunktiv II hätte: Ich hätte gern … means I would like.

Try it yourself

1. Translate into German: Can I still change my order?

   Show answer or example answer

   Kann ich meine Bestellung noch ändern?

   Kann opens the yes/no question, meine Bestellung is the object, and ändern ends it. Noch asks whether it is still possible at this point.

2. Put the words in order: gern / hätte / Ich / Pommes / Reis / statt

   Show answer or example answer

   Ich hätte gern Reis statt Pommes.

   Hätte gern is the polite ordering formula. Statt Pommes names the item you are replacing, so the swap is clear in one short sentence.

3. Write this sentence in German: Good, then we will pack rice with it.

   Show answer or example answer

   Gut, dann packen wir Reis dazu.

   Dann opens the sentence, so packen precedes wir. Dazupacken is separable, and dazu at the end means into the order with the rest.

Use it today

You ordered a curry with naan by phone. Call back and ask to swap the naan for rice while keeping everything else the same.