das
Geschäft
🛍️ What does "das Geschäft" mean?
The German word das Geschäft is a neuter noun with several meanings:
- Shop / Store: A place where goods or services can be bought. Example: Ich gehe kurz ins Geschäft, um Milch zu holen. (I'm quickly going to the shop to get milk.)
- Business / Company: An economic organization. Example: Er führt ein erfolgreiches Geschäft. (He runs a successful business.)
- Transaction / Deal: A purchase, sale, or agreement, often in a commercial context. Example: Das war ein gutes Geschäft für beide Seiten. (That was a good deal for both sides.)
- Affair / Matter / Business (in the sense of 'concern'): Something that needs to be done or is of importance (also colloquially used for 'going to the toilet'). Example 1: Das ist nicht dein Geschäft! (That's none of your business!) Example 2 (coll.): Er muss mal kurz sein Geschäft erledigen. (He needs to quickly do his business / go to the toilet.)
🚨 Note: The colloquial meaning for 'going to the toilet' should only be used in very informal contexts.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Ge- → mostly neutral.
Nouns beginning with Ge- are usually neutral, unless other rules apply. We do not list all Ge nouns.
📐 Grammar of "das Geschäft" in Detail
"Geschäft" is a neuter noun. It uses the article das.
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | das | Geschäft |
| Genitive (Whose?) | des | Geschäft(e)s |
| Dative (To whom?) | dem | Geschäft(e) |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | das | Geschäft |
Declension Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Geschäfte |
| Genitive | der | Geschäfte |
| Dative | den | Geschäften |
| Accusative | die | Geschäfte |
Example Sentences
- (Shop) Das Geschäft öffnet um 9 Uhr.
(The shop opens at 9 o'clock.) - (Business/Company) Er arbeitet für ein großes internationales Geschäft.
(He works for a large international business.) - (Deal) Wir haben gestern ein gutes Geschäft abgeschlossen.
(We closed a good deal yesterday.) - (Affair/Matter) Misch dich nicht in meine Geschäfte ein!
(Don't interfere in my affairs/business!) - (Plural) Viele Geschäfte in der Innenstadt mussten schließen.
(Many shops in the city center had to close.)
💡 How to use "das Geschäft"?
The usage of das Geschäft strongly depends on the context:
- Everyday life: When talking about shopping, it usually refers to a store ("Ich gehe ins Geschäft." - I'm going to the shop.). Here, "Laden" is often a synonym.
- Business/Economics: Here, "Geschäft" often refers to the company itself ("Sein Geschäft läuft gut." - His business is doing well.) or a transaction ("ein Geschäft abschließen" - to close a deal). "Unternehmen" or "Firma" are more precise for the organization, while "Handel" or "Transaktion" better describe the act of buying/selling.
- Colloquial use: The meaning "Angelegenheit" (affair/matter/business - "Kümmer dich um deine eigenen Geschäfte!" - Mind your own business!) is common. The meaning "going to the toilet" ("sein Geschäft verrichten") is very informal.
Risk of confusion?
- Der Laden: Almost exclusively refers to a retail shop. Smaller and more specific than "das Geschäft".
- Das Unternehmen / Die Firma: Designate the legal and organizational entity of a business. More formal than "das Geschäft".
- Der Handel: Refers more to the general exchange of goods and services or a specific sector (e.g., retail trade - Einzelhandel).
🧠 Mnemonics for "das Geschäft"
Article Mnemonic (das)
Imagine a shop window display. What's in it? DAS nice item! It helps link the 's' sound. Or think: You need DAS cash for das Geschäft. The neutral article 'das' fits something general like 'business' or 'a shop'.
Meaning Mnemonic
"Geschäft" comes from the verb "schaffen" (to create, to manage, to do). A Geschäft (shop/business/deal/matter) is something you 'create' or 'manage' or 'get done'. Think of all the different things you need to 'manage' or 'do' – that covers the various meanings.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for "das Geschäft"
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- For Laden (shop): der Laden, das Kaufhaus (department store), die Boutique, der Handel (trade, commerce; sometimes shop)
- For Unternehmen (company): die Firma, das Unternehmen, der Betrieb (operation, works), die Gesellschaft (company, corporation)
- For Handel/Transaktion (deal/transaction): der Handel, die Transaktion, der Abschluss (conclusion, closing), der Deal (coll.), der Kauf/Verkauf (purchase/sale)
- For Angelegenheit (matter): die Angelegenheit, die Sache (thing, matter), das Anliegen (concern)
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
- For economic activity: die Freizeit (leisure time), das Hobby, der Müßiggang (idleness)
- For transaction: der Verlust (loss), die Schenkung (donation, gift)
- For affair (in the sense of interference): die Privatsphäre (privacy)
⚠️ Similar but different words:
- Das Gewerbe: Often refers to a registered trade or business activity, more specific than Geschäft.
- Die Wirtschaft: The economy as a whole system. Much broader than a single Geschäft.
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt der Chef seinen neuen Mitarbeiter: "Sagen Sie mal, Meier, ist das Ihr Ernst, während der Arbeitszeit Kreuzworträtsel zu lösen?"
Antwortet Meier: "Wieso? Hätten Sie ein besseres Geschäft für mich?"
Translation: The boss asks his new employee: "Tell me, Meier, are you serious about doing crossword puzzles during working hours?"
Meier replies: "Why? Did you have a better deal / business / task for me?" (The humor comes from the double meaning of Geschäft - a business deal or simply something to do/a task).
📜 Poem about "das Geschäft"
Ein Geschäft, mal groß, mal klein,
lädt zum Kaufen herzlich ein.
Manchmal ist's ein Handel nur,
manchmal eine Firmentour.
Auch 'ne Sache, die man schafft,
nennt man manchmal "Geschäft".
Ob Laden, Deal, ob Firma fein,
das Geschäft muss wichtig sein!
Translation:
A Geschäft, sometimes big, sometimes small,
Invites you warmly to buy it all.
Sometimes it's just a trade,
Sometimes a company tour is made.
Also a thing that one achieves,
Is sometimes called a "Geschäft", one believes.
Whether shop, deal, or company fine,
Das Geschäft must be important, a crucial line!
🧩 Little Riddle
Ich habe Türen, doch kein Haus.
Man trägt Geld rein und Waren raus.
Ich kann ein Handel sein, ganz schlau,
oder eine Firma, wisst ihr's genau?
Manchmal bin ich nur 'ne Pflicht.
Welches Wort ist hier im Licht?
Translation:
I have doors, but not a house.
People carry money in and goods out, no douse.
I can be a transaction, quite smart,
Or a company, do you know its part?
Sometimes I'm just a duty, plain.
Which word is here in the light, again?
(Solution: das Geschäft)
✨ Other Interesting Aspects
Word Origin (Wortherkunft)
The word Geschäft derives from the verb schaffen (to create, manage, do, accomplish). The prefix Ge- often indicates a collection or result. So, a Geschäft is something that has been created or something one is occupied with (sich beschäftigen mit / schaffen).
Compound Words (Zusammengesetzte Wörter)
There are many German words formed with "Geschäft", e.g.:
- der Geschäftsmann / die Geschäftsfrau (businessman / businesswoman)
- die Geschäftsreise (business trip)
- das Geschäftsessen (business lunch/dinner)
- der Geschäftsführer (manager, CEO)
- das Weihnachtsgeschäft (Christmas business/trade)
- die Geschäftsbedingungen (AGB) (terms and conditions)
Summary: is it der, die or das Geschäft?
The correct article is always das Geschäft. It is a neuter noun.