Büroklammer
/byˈʁoːˌklamɐ/feminine
The English phrase 'paper clip' is translated into German as Büroklammer.
Meaning: paper clip (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word Büroklammer is a compound of Büro, meaning 'office' and Klammer, meaning 'clip' or 'clamp'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Switzerland, the term Briefklammer is used to refer to a paper clip.
How does it change in a sentence?
Büroklammer is a feminine noun. Its plural form is Büroklammern.
How do you pronounce it?
/byˈʁoːˌklamɐ/
Did you know?
- The word Klammer is used in German mathematics to describe the symbols for brackets and parentheses, treating a mathematical grouping as a physical 'clamp' that holds numbers together.
- In German legal and medical contexts, a Klammer can refer to a surgical staple used to close a wound, moving the concept of a 'clip' from the office to the operating room.
- The word Büro in Büroklammer is a loanword from the French 'bureau', reflecting the historical influence of French administration on German office culture.
Examples in context
- Hast du eine Büroklammer?Do you have a paper clip?This sentence is useful for asking if someone possesses a Büroklammer.Tatoeba #8826196 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2481189 by sharptoothed
- Kriegst du ein Schloß mit einer Büroklammer auf?Can you pick a lock with a paper clip?This sentence shows how a Büroklammer might be used to pick a lock.Tatoeba #12691562 by Waldelfe, translation #6048465 by CK
- An dem Dokument war mit einer Büroklammer eine Notiz befestigt.A note was attached to the document with a paper clip.This sentence describes using a Büroklammer to attach a note to a document.Tatoeba #620625 by samueldora, translation #44114 by CK
- Können Sie mir bitte eine Büroklammer geben?Could you please give me a paper clip?
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Julian are working at a shared desk in an office.
- JuliaJulian, hast du eine Büroklammer für mich?Julian, do you have a paper clip for me?
- JulianJa, hier ist eine Büroklammer.Yes, here is a paper clip.
- JuliaDanke, das hilft mir sehr.Thanks, that helps me a lot.
- JulianGerne, Julia.You're welcome, Julia.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “paper clip” translations and entries Büroklammer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Büroklammer, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
