German Phrase
Leicht blutig, bitte.
Meaning
A concise way to tell a waiter how you want your meat cooked: ‘lightly bloody, please.’ It signals that you prefer your steak rare, with a pink, juicy centre. The phrase is short, polite, and commonly heard in German restaurants.
When to use
Use this sentence when ordering steak, pork, lamb, or any cut of meat that can be cooked to varying degrees of doneness. It works best in casual to semi‑formal dining settings where the staff asks for your preferred level of cooking.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Leichtblutig,bitte.
Leicht (adverb)
Used to modify adjectives, meaning 'lightly' or 'a little'.
blutig (adjective)
Describes meat that is still pink and juicy; literally 'bloody'. In culinary contexts it means 'rare'.
bitte (polite particle)
Adds politeness to a request; placed at the end of the sentence in spoken German.
🗨In Conversation
Wie möchten Sie Ihr Steak?
How would you like your steak?
Leicht blutig, bitte.
Lightly bloody, please.
✕Common Mistakes
Blutig, bitte.
Saying just "blutig" sounds abrupt; you need an adverb like "leicht" or "sehr" to soften the request.
Bitte leicht blutig.
The polite particle "bitte" normally goes at the end of the sentence in spoken German.
Leicht blutig bitte.
Missing the comma makes the phrase look rushed; a short pause (comma) separates the description from the polite request.
↔Alternatives
Bitte medium‑rare.
Medium‑rare, please.
Bitte rosa.
Pink, please.
Bitte nicht durchgebraten.
Not well‑done, please.
Cultural Tip
In Germany, specifying the exact doneness of meat is normal, and "blutig" is the term for the rarest level. Some traditional restaurants may refuse to serve meat that is too rare for health reasons, so if you want it very rare you can say "sehr leicht blutig" or ask if they can accommodate. Using "bitte" at the end keeps the request courteous, which is appreciated in German service culture.