Böttcher
/ˈbœtçɐ/masculine
The German word for cooper is Böttcher. Wiktionary also lists Küfer and Fassbinder.
Meaning: craftsman (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Böttcher | /ˈbœtçɐ/ | masculine |
| Küfer | /ˈkyːfɐ/ | masculine |
| Fassbinder | /ˈfasbɪndɐ/ | masculine |
| Fassküfer | masculine | |
| Fassmacher | masculine | |
| Wannenmacher | masculine | |
| Schäffler | /ˈʃɛflɐ/ | masculine |
What does it mean word for word?
The term Fassbinder literally means 'barrel binder', combining Fass (barrel) and Binder (binder). The term Fassmacher literally means 'barrel maker', combining Fass (barrel) and Macher (maker).
Which one should you use?
Böttcher is the most common and standard term for a cooper in modern German.
How does it change in a sentence?
All forms provided are masculine nouns. Fassbinder is a masculine noun with the plural Fassbinder. Küfer is a masculine noun with the plural Küfer. Böttcher is a masculine noun with the plural Böttcher.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbœtçɐ/
Did you know?
- In Munich, the Schäfflerlauf is a traditional dance performed by coopers to celebrate the end of a plague epidemic in 1517.
- The term Böttcher evolved from the Low German word bödeker and was later reshaped to sound like the High German word Bottich meaning 'tub'.
- The Schäffler form is a regional variation common in Southern Germany and Austria, whereas Böttcher is more prevalent in the North.
Examples in context
- Der Säger hat Holz zur Küferwerkstatt gebracht, aber der Küfer wartet noch auf den Bandschmied. Der Kerzenmacher hingegen hat alles, was er braucht.The sawyer brought some timber over to the cooper's shop, but the cooper is still waiting on the hooper. The chandler is doing fine, though.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use Küfer in the context of a craftsman's workshop.Tatoeba #1372187 by al_ex_an_der, translation #1372008 by Thanuir
- Herr Müller ist ein talentierter Fassbinder.Mr. Müller is a talented cooper.
- Der Böttcher fertigt neue Fässer.The cooper is making new barrels.
- Mein Urgroßvater war ein Böttcher.My great-grandfather was a cooper.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing their ancestors' professions in a museum.
- LauraWar dein Urgroßvater auch ein Böttcher?Was your great-grandfather also a cooper?
- JulianJa, er war ein geschickter Böttcher.Yes, he was a skilled cooper.
- LauraDas ist ein interessanter Beruf.That is an interesting profession.
- JulianStimmt, er liebte seine Arbeit.True, he loved his work.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cooper” translations and entries Böttcher, Küfer, Fassbinder, Schäffler, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Böttcher, Fassbinder, Küfer, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
