Comments on: German Table Manners, German Etiquette

By: Alex Browine

Alex Browine — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:37:02 +0000

tHANKS THIS HELPS ALOT

By: Alex Browine

Alex Browine — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:36:26 +0000

I will be visting Gremany soon. this webaite really helped me, for purposes. One of my friends who is German invited me over and i needed to know how to act and what to bring! Thanks

By: Bill

Bill — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 01:37:02 +0000

Well, I’d like to think that anyone who adheres to the basic rules of either society wouldn’t be too offended or put off eating with members of the other. Some people do things differently…. it’s interesting to see and hear.

There are definitely boorish people everywhere. I have to admit that I am one who does not enjoy seeing or hearing someone eat. Chewing your food with your mouth closed and not talking when it’s full are very helpful in accomplishing that goal.

By: Tip

Tip — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 13:32:14 +0000

Most all of these are rules in polite society in the US as well (along with many more); it’s just not common to be expected to use good manners at a normal BBQ, and most people don’t commonly have dinner parties and such that require formal manners.

By: birg watcher

birg watcher — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:57:53 +0000

Please let me add that my Fiance complains about me eating with my fingers food that are considered “Finger Foods”.. fried chicken, sandwiches.. ect.

By: birg watcher

birg watcher — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:52:52 +0000

When I was in Germany, I dined with friends. A woman whom I’d never met joined us for our dinner. I ate with my elbows off the table and for the most part, enjoyed what little of my meal I could eat. Another friend of theirs joined us for dinner as I said. I sat and listened as she slurped the soup (and even sucked it though her front teeth). She talked all the way through dinner in German, though she is well spoken in English and you could see everything in her mouth. I lay my fork and knife over my plate and listened to her. I know my friends thought I did not enjoy my meal, but I made a complaint later of my stomach and they seemed happy with that excuse. I taught my children not to talk with full mouths as toddlers. I found her gross and noisey. She made several comments about Amercians making every dish a finger food. That may be; but at least I dont make people ill watching and hearing me eat it. As to the talking with a full mouth being normal, I think it depends on the individual. I believe they find us eating a sandwich with our fingers equally disgusting. Its just impossible for me to see eating a sandwitch with my fingers as disgusting as watching someone gobble, slurp and gulp their dinner!

By: Kadi

Kadi — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:21:53 +0000

My bf is German. I’ve been to his parents house many times. For me it is a bit difficult and weird to call his parents Herr and Frau, but we hands with and after that always comes a nice hug by them

About the table manners… Germans are pretty strict about them – no elbows on the table, no cutting the potatoes with knife, no shoveling the food etc. Since German culture is very similar to mine there are no problems (I like good table manners, I hate to feel as if eating with pigs), but there are some things that are no go for me but seem to be normal there. Talking with mouth full for example… I hate that, but there it seems to be ok. Lol.

I would liked to know more.

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By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 07:16:00 +0000

Regarding dbunny’s comment.

Cutting your meat first before start eating and then putting the knife down is a definite NO GO in Germany. People will start looking at you as it’s perceived very rude and as typical american Wild West manners… I’d been living in the States for a while and noticed that’s this is common practice. For me (as German) that kept looking strange especially when people lower their heads and start shovelling the food.

In the case your not feeling comfortable using the knife over the complete meal make at least sure to put your hands ON the table. I would think not using the knife over the meal may be excused but putting your left hand under the table makes it even worse…

By: DBunny

DBunny — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 14:42:00 +0000

In regard to what mollyb said, I’ve noticed this too. My first dinner out with Germans was to a restaurant with big chunks of meat. I cut my meat into bite-sized pieces, put the knife down and the fork back into my right hand to eat. I didn’t realize that I was being watched because of my bizarre behavior. Luckily, though, I was later told by two of them that they think it makes more sense the way Americans do it. LOL. I still can’t eat like Germans with a knife or spoon in one hand and a fork in the other. Probably never will, no matter how much etiquette says otherwise. But somehow I don’t really feel the need to change it. I’m American and we’re different and maybe that just makes me more interesting to watch at the table =;-)