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Grundpreis
💰 What exactly is a Grundpreis?
Der Grundpreis is a masculine noun in German and primarily has two closely related meanings:
- Base price: The price for a product or service without any extras, additional services, or discounts. It's the starting point for price calculation. Example: Der Grundpreis des Autos ist 20.000€, aber mit Sonderausstattung kostet es 25.000€. (The base price of the car is €20,000, but with special equipment, it costs €25,000.)
- Price per unit of quantity: Especially in retail, the Grundpreis is legally required in Germany (§ 4 PAngV - Preisangabenverordnung). It indicates the price of a product based on a specific unit of quantity (e.g., per kilogram, liter, meter, square meter). This facilitates better comparison of products with different package sizes. Example: Auf dem Preisschild steht der Gesamtpreis der Packung und darunter der Grundpreis von 3,50€ pro Kilogramm. (On the price tag is the total price of the package and below it the unit price of €3.50 per kilogram.)
⚠️ It's important to distinguish between these two meanings depending on the context.
🧐 Grammar Check: Der Grundpreis in Detail
The noun „Grundpreis“ is masculine. Here is its declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Grundpreis |
| Genitive | des | Grundpreises |
| Dative | dem | Grundpreis(e) |
| Accusative | den | Grundpreis |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Grundpreise |
| Genitive | der | Grundpreise |
| Dative | den | Grundpreisen |
| Accusative | die | Grundpreise |
Example Sentences
- Der Grundpreis für das Hotelzimmer beinhaltet kein Frühstück. (The base price for the hotel room does not include breakfast.) - Meaning 1: Base price
- Vergleichen Sie immer den Grundpreis pro Liter, um das günstigste Getränk zu finden. (Always compare the unit price per liter to find the cheapest drink.) - Meaning 2: Price per unit
- Dem Kunden wurde nur der Grundpreis genannt, die Nebenkosten kamen später hinzu. (The customer was only told the base price; the additional costs were added later.) - Meaning 1: Base price
- Die Angabe des Grundpreises ist für viele Produkte verpflichtend. (Indicating the unit price is mandatory for many products.) - Meaning 2: Price per unit
🛒 Everyday Application: When to use Grundpreis?
The term Grundpreis is particularly relevant in the following contexts:
- Retail & Consumption: When shopping in the supermarket, to objectively compare prices of different package sizes (price per kg/l/item). It's often found in small print on the price tag.
- Offers & Contracts: For services (e.g., mobile phone plans, travel, tradespeople) or major purchases (e.g., cars, houses), the Grundpreis often refers to the basic offer without optional extras.
- Price Negotiations: As a starting point for negotiations or for calculating total costs.
Distinction from other terms:
- Gesamtpreis/Endpreis (Total price/Final price): Includes all costs, including taxes, fees, and extras, unlike the pure Grundpreis (base price).
- Stückpreis (Price per piece): Price per individual item, which can correspond to the Grundpreis for certain goods (e.g., price per apple) but doesn't have to (the Grundpreis for eggs is often per kg or per 10 pieces).
🧠 Mnemonics for Memorization
- Article Aid: Think of the price being the 'ground' work (Grund) for the deal. 'Ground' in German is der Grund (masculine), so the price is der Grundpreis.
- Meaning Aid (Base Price): Imagine the Grund (foundation/ground) of a building. The Grundpreis is the foundation price upon which extras are built.
- Meaning Aid (Unit Price): When shopping, you look down at the Grund (ground level / bottom shelf / small print) to find the true comparative price per unit – der Grundpreis.
🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms
- For Base Price: Basispreis (base price), Grundgebühr (basic fee - for services), Listenpreis (list price - often for cars), Ausgangspreis (starting price)
- For Price per Unit: Einheitspreis (unit price), Kilopreis (price per kilo), Literpreis (price per liter), Meterpreis (price per meter)
⚠️ Watch out for confusion!
- Festpreis (Fixed price): A price that is non-negotiable. This can be a Grundpreis or an Endpreis.
- Nettopreis vs. Bruttopreis (Net price vs. Gross price): Nettopreis is the price without VAT (Value Added Tax), Bruttopreis is the price including VAT. The Grundpreis in retail is usually a Bruttopreis.
😂 A Little Price Joke
Kunde: "Ist das der Endpreis?"
Verkäufer: "Nein, das ist nur der Grundpreis. Das Ende kommt erst an der Kasse!" 😉
Translation:
Customer: "Is that the final price?"
Salesperson: "No, that's just the base price. The end only comes at the checkout!" 😉
✒️ Poem about the Grundpreis
Im Laden, vor Regalen bunt,
wird oft der Grundpreis kund.
Pro Kilo, Liter oder Metermaß,
vergleichen macht erst richtig Spaß.
Mal klein gedruckt, mal kaum zu seh'n,
doch wichtig, um den Wert zu versteh'n.
Der erste Preis, ganz ohne Zier,
das ist der Grundpreis, glaube mir!
Translation:
In the shop, before colourful shelves,
the base price often reveals itself.
Per kilo, liter, or meter's measure,
comparing first brings real pleasure.
Sometimes small print, barely in sight,
but key to understanding value right.
The initial price, plain and clear,
that is the base price, believe me, dear!
❓ Price Riddle
Ich zeige dir pro Maß den Wert,
damit dein Kauf sich auch vermehrt.
Ob Kilo, Liter, ganz egal,
ich helfe bei der klugen Wahl.
Ich bin die Basis, nackt und rein,
bevor die Extras kommen drein.
Wer bin ich?
Translation:
I show you the value per measure,
so that your purchase brings more treasure.
Whether kilo, liter, it doesn't matter,
I help with the smart choice chatter.
I am the basis, naked and pure,
before the extras come, that's sure.
What am I?
Lösung/Solution: Der Grundpreis (The base price / unit price)
💡 Other Info about Grundpreis
Word Composition:
The word "Grundpreis" is a compound noun, composed of:
- Grund (der): Meaning here: base, foundation, basis.
- Preis (der): Price; the amount of money to be paid for a good or service.
So, literally, it means the "base price" or "foundation price".
Legal Regulation:
In Germany, indicating the Grundpreis for many products in retail is regulated by the Preisangabenverordnung (PAngV - Price Indication Ordinance) to ensure consumer transparency.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Grundpreis?
The word "Grundpreis" is always masculine. The correct article is der. So you say der Grundpreis, des Grundpreises, dem Grundpreis, den Grundpreis. The plural is die Grundpreise.