German Phrase
Probier mal den gebackenen Lachs mit geröstetem Gemüse.
Meaning
The speaker is inviting the listener to try a dish of baked salmon served together with roasted vegetables. The particle ‘mal’ makes the suggestion sound relaxed and friendly rather than a strict command.
When to use
Use this phrase in informal settings – at a family dinner, when you’re cooking for friends, or when you want to recommend a dish at a restaurant. It’s perfect for casual conversation among peers.
✦Grammar Breakdown
ProbiermaldengebackenenLachsmitgeröstetemGemüse
Imperativ + mal
‘Probier mal’ is the informal imperative of ‘probieren’ softened by the particle ‘mal’, which makes the request sound friendly and casual.
Accusative after ‘den’
‘den’ is the masculine accusative definite article; it marks ‘Lachs’ as the direct object of the verb ‘probieren’.
Weak adjective declension (Accusative)
After a definite article in the accusative, adjectives take the weak ending ‘‑en’: ‘gebackenen Lachs’.
Preposition ‘mit’ + Dativ
‘mit’ always governs the dative case, so ‘Gemüse’ (neuter) becomes ‘dem Gemüse’ and the adjective gets the weak dative ending ‘‑em’: ‘geröstetem Gemüse’.
Neuter noun ‘Gemüse’
‘Gemüse’ is neuter; in the dative it is ‘dem Gemüse’, but the article is omitted here because the adjective already shows the case.
🗨In Conversation
Probier mal den gebackenen Lachs mit geröstetem Gemüse.
Give the baked salmon with roasted vegetables a try.
Klingt super, ich probiere es gleich!
Sounds great, I’ll try it right away!
✕Common Mistakes
Probier mal der gebackene Lachs mit geröstetem Gemüse.
‘der’ is nominative; the verb ‘probieren’ requires the accusative, so it must be ‘den’.
Probier mal den gebackener Lachs mit geröstetem Gemüse.
After the definite article ‘den’, the adjective takes the weak ending ‘‑en’, not ‘‑er’.
Probier mal den gebackenen Lachs mit geröstete Gemüse.
‘mit’ governs the dative, so the adjective must be ‘geröstetem’, not ‘geröstete’.
Probier den gebackenen Lachs mit geröstetem Gemüse.
Leaving out ‘mal’ makes the sentence sound more like a command; keep it for a friendly suggestion.
↔Alternatives
Versuch doch den gebackenen Lachs mit geröstetem Gemüse.
Go ahead and try the baked salmon with roasted vegetables.
Wie wäre es mit gebackenem Lachs und geröstetem Gemüse?
How about baked salmon and roasted vegetables?
Probier den Lachs, er ist gebacken und kommt mit geröstetem Gemüse.
Try the salmon; it’s baked and comes with roasted vegetables.
Cultural Tip
In German cuisine, salmon (Lachs) is often baked with a light lemon‑herb glaze, while ‘geröstetes Gemüse’ (roasted vegetables) can include carrots, zucchini, bell peppers, and potatoes. Offering a dish with ‘Probier mal…’ is a typical way to show hospitality without sounding overly formal. Remember that ‘mal’ is colloquial; in a formal setting you would drop it: ‘Probieren Sie den gebackenen Lachs…’.