Katter.Germany: Meeresfrüchte Mania! 50 German Seafood Words to Know

TravelCulture

Jan 14

Have you ever wanted to order seafood in German, but didn’t know how? 🐟

Northern Germany is famous for its fresh and culturally rich seafood repertoire. Whether you are visiting Hamburg or Bremen, seafood restaurants line city canals (like Norderelbe) eagerly inviting you to try. You look at the menu and realize you do not recognize a single thing on this menu, and you cannot sit there and simply translate all of these words.

Ordering seafood (or meeresfrüchte) in Germany is certainly intimidating if you are not familiar with the German language. Take a look at our guide of German to English translations for seafood items in German so that you can order what you want and learn a bit along the way too.

Here is a List of over 50 Different Seafood Words you May Encounter in Germany:

Meeresfrüchte - Seafood
filet - Filleted - Example: a Thunfischfilet would be a Tuna Fish Filet.
Frisch - Fresh

Fisch - Fish

Der Lachs - Salmon
Der Karpfen - Carp
Die Makrele - Mackerel
Die Forelle - Trout
Der Zander - Pike-Perch (or Walleye)
Der Seelachs - Pollock
Die Dorade - Gilthead Seabream
Der Thunfisch - Tuna
- Der Thunfischsandwich - Tuna Fish Sandwich
- Der Thunfischsalat - Tuna Fish Salad
Der Pannfisch (Pfannfisch) - Pan Fish
Die Sardine - Sardine
Der Schwertfisch - Swordfish
Der Rotbarsch - Redfish
Der Kabeljau - Cod
Der Seeteufel - Angler Fish
Der Barsch - Bass
- Der Wolfsbarsch - Sea Bass
Die Sepia - Cuttlefish
Der Pangasius - Pangasius Fish
Die Sardelle - Anchovy

Der Hai - Shark
Der Steinbeißer - Atlantic Wolffish

Schalentiere - Shellfish

Die Garnele - Shrimp
Die Jakobsmuschel - Scallop
Die Venusmuschel - Clam
Die Krabbe - Crab
Die Austern - Oysters
Der Oktopus - Octopus
Die Riesengarnele - King Prawn or Jumbo Shrimp
Der Hummer - Lobster
Der Aal - Eel
Der Tintenfisch - Squid

Common Seafood Dishes

Panierter Fisch - Breaded Fish
Gebackener Fisch - Baked Fish
Gebratener Fisch - Fried Fish
Fischsuppe - Fish Soup
Räucherfisch - Smoked Fish
Krabbencocktail - Shrimp Cocktail

German Seafood Dishes

Rollmops - Herring Fillets rolled around a filling, usually pickled cucumbers (gherkin), carrot, and onion.

Fun Fact: Rollmops are a staple Katerfrühstück (hangover food) in Germany.

Brathering (Brat-Hering) - Fried Herring marinated in a vinegar and onion sauce.
Forelle Müllerin - Trout Meunière
Steckerlfisch - Grilled Fish on a Stick, usually whitefish.
Helgoländer knieper - Brown Crab Claws boiled in seawater, then cracked open and served with bread, butter, and garlic.
Fischbrötchen - Fish Sandwiches made with an irresistible German bun and include pickles, onions, remoulade, and other toppings.
Fischgulasch - Fish Goulash, made usually from whitefish, onions, spices (largely paprika!), and heavy cream.
Karpfen Gebacken - Baked Carp, a popular holiday dish (at times called Christmas Carp).
Karpfen Blau - “Blue Carp”, a traditional holiday dish where carp is poached in white wine and simmered with vegetables and aromatics.
Labskaus - A common sailors meal consisting of salted corned beef hash, mashed potatoes, and beets, and other garnishes like pickled herring, poached egg, and gherkins.
Fischfrikadellen - Fish Cakes, usually made with whitefish like pollock or cod.
Buttermakrelebrötchen - A Butterfish (or Escolar) Bread Roll
Note: Butterfish, while tasty, is notorious for GI issues.