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German Phrase

Ich hab gerade zu Abend gegessen.

/ɪç hap ɡəˈʁaːdə tsuː ˈaːbənt ɡəˈɡɛsn̩/
Meaning"I have just eaten dinner."
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Meaning

This phrase uses the present perfect tense to indicate an action completed in the very recent past. The addition of 'gerade' emphasizes that the meal ended only moments ago. It uses the idiomatic expression 'zu Abend essen' rather than a direct object construction.

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When to use

Use this phrase when someone offers you food or invites you to a meal in the evening and you want to politely decline because you are full. It is also used to update someone on your current status during a conversation.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Ichhabgeradezu Abendgegessen

1

Hab

A common spoken contraction of 'habe' (I have).

2

Gerade

An adverb meaning 'just' or 'right now', used here to indicate the immediate past.

3

Gegessen

The past participle of the irregular verb 'essen' (to eat).

🗨In Conversation

A

Möchtest du ein Stück Pizza?

Would you like a piece of pizza?

Nein danke, ich hab gerade zu Abend gegessen.

No thanks, I have just eaten dinner.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Ich bin gerade zu Abend gegessen.

    The verb 'essen' (to eat) always takes 'haben' as its auxiliary verb in the perfect tense, never 'sein'.

  • Ich habe gerade Abendessen gegessen.

    While 'Abendessen' is the noun for dinner, the standard idiomatic way to say 'to eat dinner' is 'zu Abend essen'.

↔Alternatives

  • Ich habe schon gegessen.

    I have already eaten.

  • Ich bin satt.

    I am full.

de

Cultural Tip

In Germany, 'Abendbrot' (evening bread) is a traditional dinner consisting of bread, cheeses, and cold meats. Because it is often a lighter, cold meal, this phrase might be used even if the speaker didn't have a large 'cooked' dinner.