die  Mahlzeit

A1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈmaːlˌtsaɪ̯t/

🍽️ What does "die Mahlzeit" mean?

The German word die Mahlzeit has two main meanings:

1. The meal itself: The primary meaning refers to one of the main daily meals (Frühstück - breakfast, Mittagessen - lunch, Abendessen - dinner) or a dish eaten at a specific time. It emphasizes the act of eating at a set time. Example: "Das Mittagessen ist heute eine warme Mahlzeit." (Lunch is a hot meal today.)
2. An informal greeting: Especially in the workplace in Germany and Austria, "Mahlzeit!" is used as a brief greeting around lunchtime. It's a short form of "Gesegnete Mahlzeit!" (Blessed mealtime!) or "Guten Appetit!" (Enjoy your meal!) and can be used when arriving, leaving, or meeting someone in the hallway. This usage is rather informal and sometimes controversial. Example: Colleagues meeting in the canteen: "Mahlzeit!" - "Mahlzeit!"

⚠️ Attention: As a greeting, "Mahlzeit" is often used without an article and as an exclamation.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of "die Mahlzeit" in Detail

"Mahlzeit" is a feminine noun and always takes the article die.

📝 Example Sentences

• Die Familie nimmt die Mahlzeiten gemeinsam ein.
  (The family takes their meals together.)
• Ich wünsche Ihnen eine angenehme Mahlzeit.
  (I wish you a pleasant meal.)
• Nach einer üppigen Mahlzeit fühlt man sich oft müde.
  (After a hearty meal, one often feels tired.)
• Im Büro hört man um 12 Uhr oft "Mahlzeit!" als Gruß.
  (In the office, you often hear "Mahlzeit!" as a greeting around 12 o'clock.)

🗣️ How to Use "Mahlzeit" Correctly

As a term for Meal

"Die Mahlzeit" is used to describe a complete food intake at a specific time. It's slightly more formal or general than just "Essen" (food, eating). You talk about warme Mahlzeiten (hot meals) or kalte Mahlzeiten (cold meals), Hauptmahlzeiten (main meals), or Zwischenmahlzeiten (snacks between meals).

• Context: Meal planning, describing eating habits, restaurant visits.
• Example: "Drei Mahlzeiten pro Tag sind üblich." (Three meals per day are common.)

As a Greeting

Using "Mahlzeit!" as a greeting is highly context-dependent:

• Time: Mainly between approx. 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM.
• Place: Predominantly at the workplace (office, workshop, canteen), less common in private settings.
• Formality: Informal to collegial. In very formal or conservative environments, the greeting might be considered inappropriate.
• Comparison: Shorter and often less warm than "Guten Appetit" (Enjoy your meal) or "Guten Tag" (Good day). Sometimes exchanged almost automatically without much emphasis.

🚨 Caution: Its use as a greeting is not equally common or accepted everywhere. It's more prevalent in some regions or industries than others.

🧠 Mnemonics for "die Mahlzeit"

Article Mnemonic (die)

Think of the English phrase "Time for a meal!". The German word for 'time' is 'die Zeit'. Both 'Zeit' and 'Mahlzeit' share the '-zeit' ending and are feminine: die Zeit, die Mahlzeit.

Meaning Mnemonic (Meal & Greeting)

Imagine it's MEAL TIME (Mahlzeit as meal). What TIME is it? Lunch TIME (Zeit). That's when colleagues greet each other with a quick "Mahlzeit!" (Mahlzeit as greeting). It connects the MEAL with the TIME and the GREETING.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms: die Mahlzeit

😄 A Little Joke

German: Fragt der Chef seine Sekretärin mittags auf dem Flur: "Na, Frau Müller, schon gemahlzeitet?"
Sie: "Nein, Herr Direktor, noch blond!"

English Translation: The boss asks his secretary in the hallway at noon: "Well, Ms. Müller, have you 'Mahlzeit-ed' yet?"
She replies: "No, Mr. Director, still blonde!"

(Explanation: It's a pun. "Mahlzeit" sounds like the past participle of "mahlen" (to grind, like coffee), which the secretary humorously misinterprets as sounding like "malen" (to paint/dye). She replies as if asked about her hair color.)

📜 A Poem about Mahlzeit

German:
Ob früh, ob Mittag oder Abend spät,
die Mahlzeit ist's, die uns zusammenhält.
Ein Teller dampft, Besteck bereit,
man nimmt sich für das Essen Zeit.

Im Büro ruft's durch jeden Gang,
"Mahlzeit!" klingt's, mal kurz, mal lang.
Ein Gruß zur Mittagsstunde eben,
bevor sich alle Gabeln heben.

English Translation:
Be it morning, noon, or evening late,
the Mahlzeit brings us to the plate.
A steaming dish, cutlery near,
we take time for the food that's dear.

In offices, through halls it rings,
"Mahlzeit!" the sound, it briefly sings.
A greeting just when noon arrives,
before everyone digs in and thrives.

❓ A Little Riddle

German:
Ich komme meist dreimal am Tag,
bin wichtig, keine Frag'.
Mal warm, mal kalt, mal klein, mal groß,
was bin ich bloß?

Um zwölf Uhr mittags, laut gerufen,
dient mein Name auch als Gruß auf vielen Stufen.
Wer bin ich?

English Translation:
I usually come three times a day,
I'm important, in every way.
Sometimes warm, sometimes cold, sometimes small, sometimes grand,
what am I, across the land?

At twelve noon, called out with might,
my name also serves as a greeting, day or night (well, noon).
What am I? (Solution: die Mahlzeit)

💡 More Facts

Word Origin (Etymology)

"Mahlzeit" is composed of:

• Mahl: From Old High German "mahal", originally meaning "assembly, court place", later also "fixed time" and from that "fixed mealtime, banquet".
• Zeit: The common German word for "time".

So, the combination emphasizes eating (Mahl) at a specific, set time (Zeit).

Controversy about the Greeting

The greeting "Mahlzeit!" is sometimes viewed critically. Some find it too boisterous, impersonal, or even outdated (zu burschikos, unpersönlich oder veraltet). Others appreciate its brevity and efficiency in the workday (Kürze und Effizienz im Arbeitsalltag). Acceptance strongly depends on the social environment (soziales Umfeld).