Ready for your next Luxembourgish Conversation Workout?
In this 15-minute Conversation Workout, you’ll practise talking about food so Iessen a simple topic, but one that can lead to all kinds of everyday conversations in Luxembourgish.
This conversation topic that is really great for when you are on break. Whether you’re at work so, during your lunch break or having a coffee with friends.
The goal of this speaking workout, is to get words out of your mouth, build confidence, and make speaking feel more natural each time you practise.
I hope that you enjoyed the previous Conversation Workouts. In case you missed them, I recommend checking them out later.
Conversation Workout #1: Greetinfs & Introduction
Conversation Workout #2: Making Plans
Conversation Workout #3: Finalising Plans
Conversation Workout #4: Talking about your family
You’ll listen to me first then repeat, helping you develop both your speaking and listening skills while sounding more natural.
Why Talking About Food Helps Your Luxembourgish Conversation Skills
Well, food is a great conversation topic because people generally enjoy talking about it. It often creates a positive atmosphere and brings people together even at work.
It’s also a simple way to connect, share cultures, and even get invited to lunches, or at people’s place
So in this episode, we’ll look at useful phrases you can use when talking about food in Luxembourgish.
3 Ways to Start a Luxembourgish Conversation When Someone Is Eating
I noticed that one thing that’s really difficult for many people learning Luxembourgish is how to start a conversation. So imagine the following situation: you are at work on break – in the kitchen area, coffee break or at the canteen or at a party with friends. And someone is eating, well then it’s a great opportunity to start a conversation. And start by saying something simple.
You can talk about what they brought and then you can follow up with more questions about the food.
Beispill:
- Mmhh, dat gesäit gutt / lecker aus. Wat ass dat? – That looks good. What is that?
- Oh, wat hues du dann haut matbruecht? – What did you bring today?
- Wat ëss du da Guddes haut? – What’s that you are eating today?
Have you noticed that dann becomes da in this question? Learn more about this word – so not only the different meanings but also when we use it: https://luxembourgishwithanne.lu/2019/12/12/wat-ass-dat-dann-dann-used-in-luxembourgish-questions/
So these are great ways to start a conversation when someone is already eating.
Possible answers could be:
Majo, dat ass …meaning well this is … notice and remember the word Majo = well / Majo ech iessen haut ….
and then you tell the name of the dish or explain what you’re eating:
Majo, dat ass eng Gromperenzalot. Déi hunn ech gëschter Owend preparéiert. – Well this is a potato salad.
Ech hunn haut eng Parmigiana matbruecht. Dat sinn Auberginen, mat Mozzarella an Tomatenzooss.
Then you can continue the conversation by asking:
Kachs du all Owend? – Do you cook every evening?
Preparéiers du all Dag eppes fir op de Büro? – Do you prepare something for the office every day?
This is a great opportunity to share ideas on what to cook at home or what to bring for lunch.
Possible answers are:
Jo, ech kachen owes oft eng Zopp oder eng Zalot. An eng Portioun halen ech fir mäi Mëttegiessen. – Yes, I often cook a soup or a salad in the evening. And I keep one portion for my lunch.
Nee, ech hunn owes net vill Zäit fir ze kachen. An och keng Loscht. Meeschtens iessen ech eng Schmier oder einfach Nuddelen mat Tomatenzooss. – No, I don’t have much time to cook in the evening. And I don’t feel like it either.
Talking about healthy eating in Luxembourgish
One really popular conversation topic is on healthy eating. So it’s good to have sentences you can say about gesond lessen.
- Ech iessen elo méi Zoppen an Zaloten – I started eating now more soups and salads.
- Ech drénken elo léiwer gréngen Téi wéi Kaffi. – I now prefer drinking green tea than coffee.
Or if you’ve heard that something is healthy you can say:
- Ech hunn héieren, datt … – I’ve heard that ….
- Ech hunn héieren, datt gréngen Téi gesond ass. – I’ve heard that green tea is healthy.
- Ech hunn ugefaangen manner Fleesch ze iessen. – I started eating less meat.
- Ech hunn ugefaangen méi gesond ze kachen. – I started cooking more healthy.
Talking About Food from Your Culture in Luxembourgish
It’s such a great topic. You can share your culture with somebody else. What you can say:
A mengem Land …. – in my country
Bei eis … – in our culture, where I come from
“Bei eis” is often used in Luxembourgish to refer to the customs of one’s country, region, or culture so not necessarily a physical place. And this is how we native speaker talk.
Bei eis iessen déi meescht Leit owes net waarm. Meaning that here in Luxembourg most people don’t eat warm in the evening.
A mengem Land iesse mir moies näischt. – I my country people don’t eat anything in the morning.
Or you start by naming your home country:
A Bulgarien kache mir vill mat Fleesch, besonnesch Poulet a Gehacktes. – Where we come from in Bulgaria, we cook a lot with meat, especially chicken and minced meat.
Bei eis an Italien iesse mir traditionell Pasta als Entrée. – Where I come from in Italy, we traditionally eat pasta as a starter.
You’ll see that people will ask you questions, they might even ask you for a recipe
Want to go beyond listening… and actually practise these real-life conversations yourself? That’s exactly what we do inside my B1 Speaking Practice Group
And if you’d like a safe place to practise, get feedback, and build real confidence speaking Luxembourgish, I invite you to join our Speaking Practice Group B1.
This is where you move from knowing Luxembourgish to actually using it in real conversations.
Inside the group you’ll get:
• 1 live online speaking session per week
• A small group (max. 6 participants) so everyone speaks and receives personal feedback
• Real-life workplace conversations and role-plays
• Guidance to help you express your ideas clearly and naturally
Step by step, you’ll feel yourself becoming more confident, more fluent, and more comfortable speaking Luxembourgish at work and also in everyday life
If that sounds like the kind of practice you need right now, come and join us in the Speaking Practice Group B1.
Luxembourgish Dialogue: Mëttegiessen um Büro – Conversation Practice
Tom: Oh, wat hues du dann haut matbruecht?
Mia: Majo, ech hunn haut Couscous mat Geméis a Poulet matbruecht. Deen hunn ech gëschter Owend preparéiert.
Sophie: Mmhh, dat gesäit lecker aus! Wat ass dann alles dran?
Mia: Do sinn Tomaten, Courgetten, Paprika an e bëssen Pois Chichen dran.
Tom: Dat kléngt wierklech gutt. Ass dat eng Spezialitéit aus dengem Land?
Mia: Jo, bei eis doheem iesse mir oft Couscous mat Geméis a Gewierzer.
Sophie: An du, Tom? Wat ëss du da Guddes haut?
Tom: Ech hunn eng Quiche mat Spinat a Kéis matbruecht.
Mia: Oh, hues du déi selwer gemaach?
Tom: Nee. Dofir hunn ech keng Zäit an der Woch. Ech hunn se de Moien beim Bäcker kaaft.
Sophie: Se gesäit awer gutt aus! An ech hunn haut eng Zalot mat Nuddelen an Thon dobäi. Hausgemaach natierlech.
Mia: Dat ass flott! Wann ech selwer kachen, iessen ech och vill méi gesond.
Tom: Oh, what did you bring today?
Mia: Well, today I brought couscous with vegetables and chicken. I prepared it yesterday evening.
Sophie: Mmhh, that looks delicious! What’s in it exactly?
Mia: There are tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, and a few chickpeas in it.
Tom: That sounds really good. Is that a specialty from your country?
Mia: Yes, back home we often eat couscous with vegetables and lots of spices.
Sophie: And you, Tom? What are you eating today?
Tom: I brought a quiche with spinach and cheese.
Mia: Oh, did you make it yourself?
Tom: No, I don’t have time for that during the week. I bought it at the bakery this morning.
Sophie: But it really looks good! And today I brought a pasta salad with tuna. Homemade, of course.
Mia: That’s nice! When I cook myself, I also eat much healthier.
