die  Kasse

💰 What does "die Kasse" mean?

The word die Kasse (feminine) has several meanings, mostly related to money or payment:

• Place of payment: The area in a shop, supermarket, etc., where you pay for goods (e.g., an der Kasse stehen - to stand at the checkout). Synonyms: der Kassenbereich (checkout area), die Zahlstelle (pay point).
• Cash register: The machine used for billing and storing cash. Synonym: die Registrierkasse.
• Institution (Healthcare): Short form for die Krankenkasse (statutory health insurance fund). E.g.: Die Kasse übernimmt die Kosten für die Behandlung. (The insurance fund covers the costs of the treatment.)
• Cash balance/Finances: The available amount of money, often used figuratively for the financial situation of an organisation. E.g.: Die Kasse ist leer. (The cash box/funds are empty.)
• Counter/Office: A counter or office where payments are made or received (e.g., Theaterkasse - theatre box office, Kinokasse - cinema box office).

🚨 Although there are different meanings, the article is always die.

🧐 Grammar of "die Kasse"

"Kasse" is a feminine noun. It declines as follows:

Singular

Plural

✨ Example Sentences

1. Bitte bezahlen Sie an der Kasse. (Please pay at the checkout.) - Referring to the place
2. Der Kassierer öffnete die Kasse, um Wechselgeld herauszugeben. (The cashier opened the till/register to give change.) - Referring to the device
3. Welche Leistungen übernimmt die Kasse? (Which services does the health insurance cover?) - Referring to the health insurance fund
4. Nach dem teuren Urlaub war die Kasse des Vereins leer. (After the expensive holiday, the club's funds were empty.) - Referring to finances
5. Wir müssen noch Tickets an der Theaterkasse abholen. (We still have to pick up tickets at the theatre box office.) - Referring to the counter

🛒 How is "die Kasse" used?

"Die Kasse" is a very common word in everyday life, especially when shopping.

• Shopping: "Ich stehe an der Kasse an." (I'm queuing at the checkout.) / "Wo ist die nächste Kasse?" (Where is the next checkout?) / "Kann ich bitte zur Kasse gehen?" (Can I go to the checkout, please?)
• In the context of money: "Kasse machen" (to cash up, to collect money), "eine leere Kasse haben" (to have no money/empty funds), "jemanden zur Kasse bitten" (to make someone pay).
• In healthcare: "Ich bin bei der AOK-Kasse versichert." (I'm insured with the AOK health fund.) / "Ist das ein Kassenpatient oder Privatpatient?" (Is that a public health insurance patient or a private patient?) - Here, often just "Kasse" instead of "Krankenkasse".
• At events: "Die Abendkasse öffnet um 19 Uhr." (The box office (for evening sales) opens at 7 PM.)

Risk of confusion? Rarely. The context usually clarifies which meaning is intended. Sometimes "Kasse" is used colloquially for "wallet" or "purse" (Geldbeutel or Portemonnaie), but this is not the standard meaning.

🧠 Mnemonics for "die Kasse"

• Article Mnemonic: Think of the female cashier (die Kassiererin - feminine noun ending in -in) rushing to 'die' checkout. The feminine job title helps remember the feminine article 'die'.

• Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine the sound of an old cash register: "Ka-ching!" The "Ka-" sounds like Kasse. Where does this happen? At 'die' place where you pay. Or think of 'die' health insurance ('Krankenkasse') that pays for you (ideally 😉).

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words:

• Die Kassette: Sounds similar, but means cassette (e.g., music cassette, video cassette) or a small box. It has nothing to do with a checkout/till.

😂 A Little Joke about the Kasse

German: Warum hat der Mathematiker an der Supermarktkasse so lange gebraucht?
Er hatte Probleme mit dem Wechselgeld!

English: Why did the mathematician take so long at the supermarket checkout (Kasse)?
He had problems with the change! (Wechselgeld also means 'change' as in money back, and 'Wechsel' means change/alternation, a mathematical concept)

📜 Poem about the Kasse

German:
Im Laden, bunt und voll,
die Waren warten toll.
Am Ende dann, oh Schreck,
führt jeder Weg direkt
Zur Dame oder zum Herrn,
bezahlen muss man gern.
Piep, piep, macht der Scanner schnell,
an der Kasse, hell und grell.

English Translation:
In the shop, colourful and full,
the goods await, wonderful.
At the end, oh dear,
every path leads directly here
To the lady or the man,
paying is part of the plan.
Beep, beep, goes the scanner fast,
at the checkout, bright contrast.

🧩 Riddle Time

German:
Ich habe eine Schublade, aber keine Kommode.
Ich nehme Geld entgegen, gebe es aber auch wieder her.
Manchmal bin ich ein Ort, manchmal ein Gerät.
Im Supermarkt stehst du oft bei mir Schlange.

Was bin ich?
... Die Kasse

English Translation:
I have a drawer, but no chest of drawers.
I accept money, but also give it back.
Sometimes I am a place, sometimes a device.
You often queue for me in the supermarket.

What am I?
... The checkout / till (Die Kasse)

💡 Other Interesting Facts

• Etymology: The word "Kasse" comes from the Italian word "cassa", meaning "box" or "container". It originally referred to the container for storing money.
• Compound Words: There are many compound words with "Kasse", e.g.:
  • die Supermarktkasse (supermarket checkout)
  • die Kinokasse (cinema box office)
  • die Portokasse (petty cash)
  • die Klassenkasse (class fund in school)
  • die Krankenkasse (health insurance fund)
  • der Kassenbon / der Kassenzettel (receipt)
  • der Kassensturz (checking the finances, often implying bad news)