Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Geschäft | /ɡəˈʃɛft/ /ɡeˈʃɛft/ |
neuter |
| Laden | /ˈlaːdən/ | masculine |
| Ladengeschäft | /ˈlaːdn̩ɡəˌʃɛft/ | neuter |
| Ladenlokal | /ˈlaːdn̩loˌkaːl/ | neuter |
All these terms refer to an establishment that sells goods. While Geschäft is a standard term for a shop or a business, you may also encounter Laden for a standard shop, Ladengeschäft or Ladenlokal for retail premises and the borrowed term Boutique to specifically refer to boutique shops. In a colloquial setting, a small, family-run convenience store is often called a Tante-Emma-Laden.
Which one should you use?
Laden is more colloquial and common in everyday speech, whereas Geschäft can refer to both a physical shop and a broader business or commercial enterprise. Ladenlokal is a more formal or technical term used specifically to describe the physical retail space or storefront.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine noun Laden becomes Läden in the plural. The neuter noun Geschäft becomes Geschäfte in the plural.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡəˈʃɛft/
Did you know?
- The word Laden shares a root with the English word 'lath', which refers to a thin strip of wood. This is because early shops often used wooden boards or shutters to display their wares.
- In German, Laden can be a noun meaning 'shop', but laden is also a common verb meaning 'to load' or 'to charge' a battery.
Examples in context
- Ich gehe zum Laden.I'm going to the shop.This sentence shows how to use Laden to express movement toward a shop.Tatoeba #5552749 by Edd, translation #11201048 by sundown
- Er ging zum Geschäft.He went to the shop.This sentence demonstrates the use of Geschäft in the past tense.Tatoeba #451364 by al_ex_an_der, translation #371435 by saeb
- Was gibt es im Laden?What's in the shop?This sentence shows how to ask about the contents of a Laden.Tatoeba #11561288 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #9330067 by sundown
- Ich gehe in das GeschäftI am going to the shop.
- Ich gehe in das Geschäft, um Kleidung zu kaufen.I am going to the shop to buy clothes.
- Lass uns in den Laden gehen und etwas Süßes kaufen!Let's go to the shop and buy something sweet!
- Ich liebe es, in der Boutique um die Ecke einzukaufen.I love shopping at the boutique around the corner.
- Ich besuche die GeschäfteI'm visiting the shops.
- 359 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Sarah are walking through the city center.
- MaximilianIst das Geschäft heute geöffnet?Is the shop open today?
- SarahJa, das Geschäft hat bis acht Uhr.Yes, the shop is open until eight o'clock.
- MaximilianGut, ich muss in dieses Geschäft.Good, I have to go into this shop.
- SarahSoll ich mit dir ins Geschäft kommen?Should I come into the shop with you?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shop” translations and entries Geschäft, Laden, Ladengeschäft, Ladenlokal, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Geschäft, Laden, Ladengeschäft, Ladenlokal, laden, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
