German Phrase
Ich trink' Kräutertee.
Meaning
Literally, 'I drink herbal tea.' The sentence is a simple present statement about what the speaker is currently drinking or habitually drinks. The apostrophe shows colloquial speech where the final -e of 'trinke' is omitted.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to tell someone what you are drinking, especially in informal conversation, at a café, or when describing a health‑related habit.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ichtrink'Kräutertee
Pronoun Ich
The subject pronoun 'Ich' means 'I' and is used for first‑person singular statements.
Verb contraction trink'
The verb 'trinken' is conjugated to 'trinke' for 'ich'. In casual speech the ending -e is often dropped, giving 'trink'' with an apostrophe.
Kräutertee (compound noun)
A compound noun formed from 'Kräuter' (herbs) + 'Tee' (tea). The plural is 'Kräutertees', but here it is singular.
🗨In Conversation
Was trinkst du gerade?
What are you drinking right now?
Ich trink' Kräutertee.
I’m drinking herbal tea.
✕Common Mistakes
Ich trink Kräutertee.
Missing the apostrophe makes it look like a typo; the correct informal spelling is trink' with an apostrophe to show the dropped -e.
Ich trink' den Kräutertee.
Do not add an article unless you need one; 'Ich trinke den Kräutertee' changes the meaning to a specific tea.
Ich trinke' Kräutertee.
Using the full form is fine, but mixing the full verb with the apostrophe (e.g., 'Ich trinke' Kräutertee') is incorrect.
↔Alternatives
Ich trinke Kräutertee.
I drink herbal tea.
Ich habe Kräutertee.
I have herbal tea.
Ich genieße einen Kräutertee.
I’m enjoying a herbal tea.
Cultural Tip
In German‑speaking countries herbal tea (Kräutertee) is often consumed after meals or in the evening because it’s caffeine‑free and believed to aid digestion. In informal settings, dropping the final -e of verbs (trink') is common among younger speakers, but in formal contexts you should keep the full form 'trinke'.