German Phrase
Kommst du heute Abend mit uns essen?
Meaning
The speaker is asking a friend or acquaintance whether they will join the group for dinner later that evening. It is a friendly, informal invitation that assumes the listener knows the plan already.
When to use
Use this sentence when you have already arranged a dinner or when you want to extend a casual invitation to someone you know well. It works for both home meals and restaurant outings, as long as the tone stays informal.
✦Grammar Breakdown
KommstduheuteAbendmitunsessen?
Kommst (kommen)
Second‑person singular present of the verb *kommen*; used here as a direct invitation.
du
Informal singular pronoun. In invitations among friends the informal *du* is standard.
heute Abend
Temporal phrase meaning “this evening”. *heute* = today, *Abend* = evening.
mit uns
Prepositional phrase with *mit* + dative pronoun *uns* (us). Indicates accompaniment.
essen (infinitive)
Infinitive used after *kommen* + *mit* to express the activity you are coming to do.
Verb‑second (V2) order
In main clauses German places the finite verb in second position; the subject *du* follows it.
🗨In Conversation
Kommst du heute Abend mit uns essen?
Are you coming to eat with us tonight?
Ja, gern! Um wie viel Uhr soll ich da sein?
Yes, gladly! What time should I be there?
✕Common Mistakes
Kommst du heute Abend zu uns essen?
The verb *kommen* already implies movement toward the group; the correct preposition is *mit* (with), not *zu* (to).
Kommst du heute Abend mit uns essen gehen?
If you want to say “go out to eat”, you need *essen gehen* as a separate verb phrase, not the infinitive after *kommen*.
Du kommst heute Abend mit uns essen?
In a question the finite verb must be in second position, so *Kommst du* is correct; *Du kommst* would be a statement.
↔Alternatives
Möchtest du heute Abend mit uns essen?
Would you like to eat with us tonight?
Willst du heute Abend mit uns essen?
Do you want to eat with us tonight?
Kommst du heute Abend zum Essen mit uns?
Are you coming to dinner with us this evening?
Cultural Tip
In German culture, being punctual for dinner invitations is appreciated; arriving a few minutes early is considered polite. If you’re invited to someone’s home, it’s customary to bring a small gift (e.g., a bottle of wine or a dessert). The informal *du* signals a friendly relationship, so avoid using *Sie* unless the setting is formal or you’re speaking to a stranger.