der  Metzger

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈmɛtsɡɐ/

🥩 What does 'der Metzger' mean?

Der Metzger is the German word for a butcher. This is a craftsman who slaughters animals, cuts up their meat, processes it, and sells it. They also produce sausages (Wurstwaren) and other meat products. The profession (Beruf) of a Metzger is a traditional craft.

In different regions of Germany and German-speaking countries, other terms are also used:

• Fleischer (common in Northern and Eastern Germany)
• Schlachter (common in Northern Germany, sometimes implies a focus on slaughtering)
• Fleischhauer (mainly in Austria and Bavaria)

Although the terms vary, they generally refer to the same profession. Metzger is particularly common in Southern and Western Germany, as well as in Switzerland.

The female form is die Metzgerin (the female butcher).

Article rules for der, die, and das

🔪 Grammar: Declension of 'der Metzger'

Metzger is a masculine noun. It uses the article der.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

Example Sentences

1. Der Metzger schneidet das Fleisch frisch auf.
   (The butcher slices the meat freshly.)
2. Das Messer des Metzgers ist sehr scharf.
   (The butcher's knife is very sharp.)
3. Ich gebe dem Metzger meine Bestellung durch.
   (I give my order to the butcher.)
4. Wir sehen den Metzger jeden Samstag auf dem Markt.
   (We see the butcher every Saturday at the market.)
5. Viele Metzger bieten auch einen Partyservice an.
   (Many butchers also offer a catering service.)
6. Die Qualität der Metzger in dieser Stadt ist hervorragend.
   (The quality of the butchers in this city is excellent.)
7. Wir danken den Metzgern für die gute Beratung.
   (We thank the butchers for the good advice.)
8. Man findet die Metzger oft auf Wochenmärkten.
   (One often finds the butchers at weekly markets.)

💡 How 'Metzger' is Used

The word Metzger is used to describe:

• The profession of a person who processes and sells meat. Example: "Mein Nachbar ist Metzger." (My neighbor is a butcher.)
• The shop or store where meat is sold (often used synonymously with Metzgerei). Example: "Ich gehe kurz zum Metzger, um Wurst zu holen." (I'm quickly going to the butcher's [shop] to get sausage.)

Although Fleischer and Schlachter are synonyms, the choice of word might depend on the region. However, Metzger is widely used and understood almost everywhere in German-speaking areas.

Figuratively, the term is rarely used, but can occasionally be used colloquially and slightly derogatorily for someone who handles something roughly or clumsily (similar to how "butcher" can be used in English). This is not its primary meaning, though.

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

Article Mnemonic: Think of the Man who mets the meat – he is der Metzger. Associating it with a typically male profession helps remember the masculine article der.

Meaning Mnemonic: The word Metzger sounds a bit like "meat-getter" or imagine someone who has to meet the animals before preparing the meat.

🔄 Synonyms and Related Terms

😂 A Little Joke

German: Fragt der Kunde den Metzger: "Ist das Rindfleisch heute zart?" Sagt der Metzger: "So zart, dass es flüstert: Bitte nicht mit dem Messer, die Gabel reicht!"

English: A customer asks the butcher: "Is the beef tender today?" The butcher replies: "So tender, it whispers: Please don't use the knife, the fork is enough!"

📜 Poem about the Butcher

German:
Der Metzger, früh am Morgen wach,
bereitet vor das nächste Fach.
Mit Schürze weiß und Messer blank,
steht er vor seiner Fleischthekenbank.

Er schneidet Kotelett und Speck,
legt Wurst und Schinken an den Fleck.
Ein Meister seines Handwerks stolz,
kennt jedes Tier, gewachsen im Holz.

English Translation:
The butcher, awake in morning's light,
Prepares the counter, clean and bright.
With apron white and knife so keen,
He stands before the meaty scene.

He cuts the chop and bacon strip,
Lays out sausage, ham on the lip.
A master proud of his old trade,
Knows every beast, in forest glade.

❓ Riddle Time

German:
Ich trage Weiß, doch bin kein Arzt,
zerlege Tiere ohne Harz.
Wurst und Schinken sind mein Metier,
verkauf sie frisch, von früh bis spät hier.

Wer bin ich?

English Translation:
I wear white, but am no doctor,
I cut up animals without resin's factor.
Sausage and ham are my trade,
I sell them fresh, from dawn till shade.

Who am I? (Answer: Der Metzger / The Butcher)

🌐 More Interesting Facts

Etymology: The word Metzger comes from the Middle High German word metzjære, which originally likely meant "food trader" or "meat chopper". The exact origin is not fully clear, but it is probably related to cutting up (compare with the German verb metzeln - to butcher, massacre).

Changing Profession: The profession of a Metzger has evolved. Today, tasks often include catering, party services, and the production of ready-made meals in addition to slaughtering and selling meat.

Feminine Form: The correct feminine form is die Metzgerin (the female butcher; plural: die Metzgerinnen).