der  Verkäufer

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/fɛɐ̯ˈkɔɪfɐ/

🛒 What does 'der Verkäufer' mean?

Der Verkäufer is a masculine noun and refers to a male person whose job or activity is to offer and sell goods, services, or other items for payment. It can be someone working in a store (Einzelhandelsverkäufer - retail salesperson), someone selling on behalf of a company (Handelsvertreter - sales representative), or even someone selling something privately (e.g., a used car).

The feminine form is die Verkäuferin.

It describes a person who handles the sales process, advises customers, and ultimately completes the exchange of goods for money (or another agreed-upon service).

• In a store: Der Verkäufer im Elektromarkt hat mich gut beraten. (The salesperson in the electronics store advised me well.)
• In field sales: Der Verkäufer präsentiert die neue Kollektion beim Kunden. (The salesperson presents the new collection to the customer.)
• Private sale: Der Verkäufer des Gebrauchtwagens war sehr freundlich. (The seller of the used car was very friendly.)

⚠️ Note: In plural, the masculine form die Verkäufer is often used generically (Die Verkäufer waren sehr beschäftigt - The salespeople were very busy), even if women are included. The more correct, but more cumbersome form would be: Die Verkäuferinnen und Verkäufer...

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of 'der Verkäufer' in Detail

The noun 'der Verkäufer' is masculine. It belongs to the weak N-declension (schwache N-Deklination). This means it takes an '-n' ending in all cases except the nominative singular.

📝 Example Sentences

1. Der Verkäufer zeigt dem Kunden die neueste Ware.
   (The seller shows the customer the latest goods.)
2. Ich habe den Verkäufer nach dem Preis gefragt.
   (I asked the seller for the price.)
3. Das ist die Unterschrift des Verkäufers.
   (That is the seller's signature.)
4. Die Verkäufer im Laden sind heute sehr beschäftigt.
   (The salespeople in the store are very busy today.)
5. Wir danken den Verkäufern für ihre Hilfe.
   (We thank the sellers for their help.)

💡 How to use 'Verkäufer'?

The term 'Verkäufer' is very common in everyday language and business.

• In retail (Einzelhandel): Refers to employees in shops (supermarket, department store, boutique, etc.). Example: Der Verkäufer an der Kasse war sehr schnell. (The salesperson at the checkout was very fast.)
• In B2B (Business-to-Business): Often refers to sales representatives or sales staff who sell products or services to other companies. Example: Unser Verkäufer im Außendienst besucht nächste Woche wichtige Kunden. (Our field salesperson is visiting important clients next week.)
• In private sales: Refers to the person selling a private item (e.g., car, furniture at a flea market). Example: Der Verkäufer wollte nicht mehr über den Preis verhandeln. (The seller didn't want to negotiate the price anymore.)

Distinction from similar terms:

• Händler (dealer/trader): Often used synonymously, but 'Händler' emphasizes the independent activity of trading (buying and selling), while 'Verkäufer' can also be an employee. A 'Händler' is often also the owner of the goods.
• Kaufmann/Kauffrau (merchant/businessman/businesswoman): A broader term for people in commerce, also encompassing business activities beyond pure selling (accounting, purchasing, etc.).
• Vertreter/Handelsvertreter (representative/sales agent): A specific type of salesperson, often self-employed, acting in the name and on behalf of one or more companies.

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

Article 'der': Think of 'DER' as the typical masculine article. Most male job titles ending in '-er' in German are masculine: der Lehrer (teacher), der Bäcker (baker), der Verkäufer. He is DER guy who sells.

Meaning: Imagine someone trying to 'VERy much KAUF' (sounds like 'cough' up money for) something from you – he's a Verkäufer (seller). Or simply: VERKAUF (sale) + ER (the person doing it).

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms for Verkäufer

⚠️ Similar but different words:

• Verkäuflich: Adjective meaning 'for sale'. Das Haus ist verkäuflich. (The house is for sale.)
• Verkaufen: The verb 'to sell'. Er verkauft Autos. (He sells cars.)

😂 A Little Joke

Chef: "Na, wie viele Bestellungen haben Sie heute gemacht?"
Neuer Verkäufer: "Zwei!"
Chef: "Was, nur zwei? Die anderen machen am Tag 30 bis 40!"
Verkäufer: "Ja, aber die anderen verkaufen auch nur Kämme an Leute mit Haaren. Ich habe heute zwei Kämme an zwei Glatzköpfe verkauft!"

Translation:
Boss: "So, how many orders did you take today?"
New Salesperson: "Two!"
Boss: "What, only two? The others manage 30 to 40 a day!"
Salesperson: "Yes, but they only sell combs to people with hair. Today, I sold two combs to two bald men!"

📜 Poem about the Salesperson

Der Verkäufer, stets bereit,
Mit Charme und Wort zur rechten Zeit.
Er preist die Ware, schön und gut,
Weckt im Kunden neuen Mut.

Ob Anzug, Auto oder Brot,
Er lindert jede Kauf-Not.
Ein Lächeln hier, ein Händedruck,
Verkauft ist's - Stück für Stück.

Translation:
The salesperson, always prepared,
With charm and words at the right time shared.
He praises the goods, lovely and fine,
Awakens new courage in the customer's line.

Whether suit, car, or bread,
He eases every shopping dread.
A smile here, a handshake there,
It's sold - piece by piece, beyond compare.

❓ Little Riddle

Ich biete an, ich preise an,
Damit ein and'rer kaufen kann.
Mal steh' ich hinterm Ladentisch,
Mal komm' ich zu dir, frisch und fesch.
Ich tausche Ware gegen Geld,
Wer bin ich wohl in dieser Welt?

Lösung: der Verkäufer

Translation:
I offer things, I praise them well,
So that another one can tell
They want to buy. Sometimes I stand
Behind the counter, close at hand.
Sometimes I visit, smart and chic,
Exchanging goods for money, quick.
Who am I in this world's great sphere?

Answer: the salesperson/seller (der Verkäufer)

🌐 Other Information

Word Composition (Wortzusammensetzung):

The word 'Verkäufer' is derived from the verb 'verkaufen' (to sell). The suffix '-er' is often used to denote a person performing an action (similar to the English '-er' in 'seller' from 'to sell').

• ver-: Prefix, often indicating change or completion.
• kaufen: Verb meaning 'to buy' (here in the context 'to sell', enabling purchase for someone else).
• -er: Suffix indicating a (male) person performing the action.

Feminine Form: As mentioned, the feminine form is 'die Verkäuferin' (plural: die Verkäuferinnen).

Professional Field (Berufsfeld): The profession of a salesperson is very diverse and exists in almost all economic sectors.