German for Beginners
Lektion 17.2
Im Kaufhaus - Abteilungen
At the Department Store
A German lesson about shopping in Germany
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Galeries Lafayette:
Ein Kaufhaus in Berlin.
Foto: Hyde Flippo
Now let's look at some typical departments or sections (Abteilungen) you would find in a German Kaufhaus. But first, a little background on German department stores.
Some well-known German department store names include Galeria Kaufhof, Hertie (short for founder Hermann Tietz, her-tie), Karstadt, Peek & Cloppenburg and Wertheim. (But Karstadt AG owns KaDeWe and also operates stores under the names Hertie, Karstadt and Wertheim.) The French Galeries Lafayette has a large, modern department store in Berlin and the British Marks & Spencer recently opened its first department store in Germany, in Cologne (Köln). The now defunct American chain Woolworth is still a well-known brand in Germany, with stores all across the country. The American discount chain Wal-Mart has also established a presence in Germany over the last few years.
Most historians claim the Magasin au Bon Marché in Paris was the world's first department store (1852). But US department stores such as Macy's in New York (1858) and Marshall Field in Chicago (1865) were also early pioneers. By 1900 there were department stores in every large US and Canadian city. The first German Kaufhäuser appeared in Berlin and Hamburg around 1904, although the stores they elvolved from were founded earlier than that.
The two German words for "department store" - das Kaufhaus and das Warenhaus - are interchangeable, but Kaufhaus is used more. Do not confuse the English word "warehouse" with Warenhaus! A warehouse is das Lagerhaus or die Lagerhalle in German.
You should study this page and its related content (pop-ups, glossaries), as well as try the exercises on the next page (17.3).
| Abteilungen Departments/Sections Typical departments found in a German Kaufhaus |
|
| Click on a department to see typical items. | |
| Deutsch | Englisch |
| Bett- und Tischwäsche | Bed and Table Linen |
| Bettwaren und Matratzen | Beds and Mattresses |
| Bücher | Books |
| Bürobedarf/Schreibwaren | Office Supplies/Stationery |
| For related vocabulary: Im Büro | |
| Babyartikel/Babymode | Baby Things - Baby Fashions |
| Computer & Software | Computer & Software |
| For related vocabulary: Computer & Internet Glossary | |
| Damenmode | Ladies' Fashions |
| For related vocabulary: Clothing/Fashion | |
| Eltekro-Großgeräte | Large Electrical Appliances |
| Elektro-Kleingeräte | Small Electrical Appliances |
| Foto - Filme | Photo - Film |
| Haushaltswaren - Glas, Porzellan | Household - Glass, Porcelain |
| Herrenmode | Men's Clothing |
| For related vocabulary: Clothing/Fashion | |
| Kindermode | Children's Clothing |
| Lebensmittel | Groceries |
| Restaurant | Restaurant |
| For related vocabulary: Food & Drink | |
| Schuhe | Shoes |
| Spielwaren | Toys |
| Sportswear | Sportswear |
| Tonträger - CD - DVD/Video | Recordings - CDs - DVD/Video |
| TV - Video - Hifi | TV - Video - Hi-Fi |
| Uhren/Schmuck | Watches/Jewelry |
| Click on a department to see typical items. | |
| Other Departments not listed above: Autozubehör (auto accessories), Bademoden (swimwear), Geschenkartikel (gifts), Lederwaren (leather apparel), Lampen/Glühbirnen (lamps, lightbulbs), Parfümerie (perfumes), Tabakwaren (tobacco shop), Gardinen und Zubehör (curtains and fixtures), Berufskleidung (work clothes, uniforms), Süßwaren (confectionery), Telekommunikation (telecommunication) | |
| NEXT > Part Three - Sample Sentences/Floors MORE > Stores in German |
|
NEXT > Part Three of this lesson (17.3)
BACK > Part One of this lesson (17)
MORE > Stores and Shops in German
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