Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| kaufen | [ˈkaʊ̯fn̩] (narrow) [ˈkaʊ̯fən] (narrow) |
| anschaffen | /ˈanˌʃafən/ |
| erwerben | [ɛɐ̯ˈvɛʁbən] (narrow) [ɛɐ̯ˈvɛɐ̯bən] (narrow) |
| erstehen | /ʔɛɐ̯ˈʃteːən/ |
In German, several verbs are used to express the act of obtaining something by paying money. While kaufen is the most common way to say 'to buy', other verbs specify the nature of the acquisition, such as procuring equipment or acquiring assets through formal or legal means.
Which one should you use?
kaufen is the standard, everyday verb used for most consumer goods and is equivalent to 'to buy'. erwerben is a more sophisticated and formal term used to mean 'to acquire' or 'to purchase', often in business, legal or academic contexts. anschaffen implies the procurement of supplies, equipment or larger assets rather than simple consumer shopping. erstehen is an informal way to express the idea of obtaining something.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
kaufen is neutral. erwerben and anschaffen are formal terms. erstehen is considered informal.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun Kauf (plural Käufe) is a general term for a purchase. Anschaffung is a noun used to refer to the acquisition of assets or equipment. Einkauf refers to the process of shopping or the act of purchasing goods, such as groceries.
Did you know?
- The term Anschaffung is frequently used to describe the purchase of a new pet or a spouse in a humorous, outdated way, treating the addition to the family as an asset procurement.
- The verb erstehen literally means 'to stand up' or 'to rise' when used in other contexts, but in the context of purchasing, it implies obtaining something through effort or a bargain.
- The word Kauf shares a common ancestor with the English word 'cheap', as both stem from roots related to trading and value.
Examples in context
- Wo kann ich Indexfonds kaufen?Where can I purchase index funds?This sentence shows how to use kaufen when asking about purchasing financial products.Tatoeba #12539397 by Naina, translation #4823857 by orcrist
- Das Paar möchte ein Haus kaufen.The couple wants to purchase a home.This sentence uses kaufen in the context of buying a home.Tatoeba #756054 by al_ex_an_der, translation #681818 by Source_VOA
- Ich möchte gerne Stiefel kaufen.I would like to purchase some boots.This sentence demonstrates using kaufen for a routine purchase like clothing.Tatoeba #2932413 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #34403 by CK
- Ich möchte einen Kauf tätigenI would like to make a purchase.
- Der Erwerb dieses Grundstücks ist geplantThe purchase of this property is planned.
- Die Anschaffung neuer Maschinen ist notwendigThe purchase of new machinery is necessary.
- Ich habe gestern neue Schuhe gekauftI bought new shoes yesterday.
- Ich gehe später einkaufenI'm going shopping later.
- Kannst du mir Brot besorgen?Can you buy me some bread?
- Der Ankauf von Wein erfolgt direkt vom ErzeugerThe purchase of wine is made directly from the producer.
- Ich möchte das Buch kaufenI want to buy the book.
- Wo kann ich hier etwas kaufen?Where can I buy something here?
- Meine letzten Käufe waren alle SchnäppchenMy recent purchases were all bargains.
- Könnten Sie mir bitte sagen, wo ich das kaufen kann?Could you please tell me where I can buy this?
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hannah and Felix are talking about their grocery list in the kitchen.
- HannahFelix, musst du heute noch Brot kaufen?Felix, do you have to buy bread today?
- FelixNein, ich möchte heute nur Obst kaufen.No, I only want to buy fruit today.
- HannahKannst du bitte auch Äpfel kaufen?Can you please buy apples too?
- FelixJa, das mache ich gerne.Yes, I will gladly do that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “purchase” translations and entries kaufen, anschaffen, erwerben, erstehen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries anschaffen, erstehen, erwerben, kaufen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
