noun
meal, mealtime
B1
Mahlzeit: noun meaning meal or mealtime, especially a main eating period. Gender: die; plural Mahlzeiten. Commonly used as a midday greeting (Mahlzeit!) among colleagues meaning enjoy your meal or simply hello at lunch. Declension regular. Also used neutrally in announcements.
Examples
Eine warme Mahlzeit am Tag ist wichtig für die Gesundheit.
A warm meal a day is important for your health.
Als die Uhr acht schlug, servierte die Familie die Mahlzeit, nachdem die Köchin alles vorbereitet hatte.
When the clock struck eight, the family served the meal after the cook had prepared everything.
Zur Mittagsmahlzeit treffen wir uns in der Kantine.
We meet in the canteen at mealtime.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture a plate on a table with a clock showing noon.
Sounds like 'meal' (Mahl) + 'time' (Zeit) — meal time.
Remember 'die Mahlzeit' — think of lunchtime as 'die' (a typical daily event in German).
Notes
'Mahlzeit!' is also used colloquially as a lunchtime greeting among colleagues in Germany.