German Phrase
Der Hauptgang kocht noch.
Meaning
The sentence tells the listener that the main dish is still being prepared and is not ready yet. It conveys a temporary state of an ongoing cooking process.
When to use
Use this phrase in a kitchen, restaurant, or at home when you want to inform someone that the main course is still on the stove or in the oven, often to manage expectations about when the meal will be served.
✦Grammar Breakdown
DerHauptgangkochtnoch
Der (definite article)
Masculine nominative singular article used before a noun that is the subject of the sentence.
Hauptgang (compound noun)
A masculine noun meaning “main course”; compound of Haupt (main) + Gang (course).
kocht (verb kochen)
3rd person singular present of “kochen” (to cook/boil). In this context it means “is cooking”.
noch (adverb)
Means “still” or “yet”. Placed after the verb in most declarative sentences.
🗨In Conversation
Wie lange dauert es noch, bis das Essen fertig ist?
How much longer until the food is ready?
Der Hauptgang kocht noch.
The main course is still cooking.
✕Common Mistakes
Die Hauptgang kocht noch.
Hauptgang is masculine, so the correct article is “Der”.
Der Hauptgang kocht fertig.
“Fertig” cannot directly follow “kocht”. Use “ist fertig” or “wird fertig”.
Noch kocht der Hauptgang.
While grammatically possible, placing “noch” before the verb sounds poetic and is less natural in everyday speech.
↔Alternatives
Der Hauptgang ist noch nicht fertig.
The main course is not ready yet.
Der Hauptgang wird noch zubereitet.
The main course is still being prepared.
Der Hauptgang braucht noch etwas Zeit.
The main course still needs some time.
Cultural Tip
In German dining culture meals are often served in distinct courses. It’s common to give a quick status update like this, especially in restaurants, to keep guests informed. Remember that “noch” signals an ongoing action, while “schon” would imply the opposite (already finished).