German Phrase
Was gibt's zu trinken?
Meaning
Literally, 'What is there to drink?' It is a casual way to ask what beverages are available, whether at a café, a party, or a friend's house.
When to use
Use this phrase in informal settings when you want to know what drinks are being offered. It works well in cafés, restaurants, at a gathering, or when visiting someone's home.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Wasgibt'szutrinken?
Was (interrogative pronoun)
Used to ask 'what' in questions; it stays the same in both nominative and accusative.
gibt's (gibt es)
Colloquial contraction of 'gibt es' (there is/are). The verb 'geben' is used impersonally, and 'es' is the dummy subject.
zu + infinitive
The preposition 'zu' followed by an infinitive expresses purpose or a pending action, similar to English 'to drink'.
trinken (infinitive)
The infinitive form of the verb 'to drink'. In this construction it follows 'zu' and does not get conjugated.
🗨In Conversation
Was gibt's zu trinken?
What’s there to drink?
Wir haben Wasser, Saft und ein paar Bier.
We have water, juice, and a few beers.
✕Common Mistakes
Was gibt zu trinken?
Missing the dummy subject 'es' makes the sentence sound incomplete.
Was gibt's zu trinken?
In very formal writing you should use the full form 'gibt es'.
↔Alternatives
Was gibt es zu trinken?
What is there to drink?
Was haben Sie zu trinken?
What do you have to drink?
Was darf ich trinken?
What may I drink?
Was gibt es zu trinken?
What’s available to drink?
Cultural Tip
In German-speaking countries, asking "Was gibt's zu trinken?" is a friendly, informal way to join a social setting. The contraction "gibt's" is common in spoken language but should be avoided in very formal writing. Germans often serve water first, so you might hear "Möchten Sie etwas zu trinken?" in more formal contexts like hotels or business meetings.