German Brand Names:
Abbreviations and Acronyms
Deutsche Firmennamen - Abkürzungen und Akronyme
Brand Name Abbreviations and Acronyms
G e r m a n - E n g l i s h
AGFA is a familiar brand in Germany
and around the world.
German Brand Names and Companies
The following abbreviations and acronyms are for German, Austrian, Swiss, and some international brand names and companies. This special glossary lists German Firmennamen abbreviations such as BMW, DEA, and VW, or German commercial acronyms such as Aral, Eduscho, and Odol that are not found in our main abbreviations glossary. If you have ever wondered about the meaning behind brand names found in German-speaking Europe, this is the glossary for you! In most cases you'll also find a link to a listed firm's Website. For other types of abbreviations and acronyms in German, also see the other pages and links below.
Also see our A-Z List of German Companies with Web links.
ALSO SEE:
• Abbreviations - Start Page
• Countries & Nationalities
• 'MfG' Abbreviations
• Real Estate Ad Abbreviations
• Das Alphabet
BRANDS > A-J | K-Z
| Marke | German | Explanation |
| 4 | ||
| 4711 | Echt Kölnisch Wasser genuine eau de Cologne |
German brand of "genuine cologne" - a name taken from a Cologne house address, site of the company founded by Wilhelm Muelhens at Glockengasse 4711 in 1792; now part of Wella AG-Cosmopolitan Cosmetics |
| A | ||
| ADAC | Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil Club | General German Automobile Club |
| Adidas | Adi Dassler (Adolph Dassler) | From the name of one of the founders of the company |
| AEG | Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft | General Electric Co. (not related to the American G.E.); appliances, industrial products |
| AG | Aktiengesellschaft | "Stock company" - incorporated (Inc.) |
| z.B./e.g.: Volkswagen AG (Volkswagen, Inc.) | ||
| Agfa | Aktien Gesellschaft für Analinfabrikation | "Stock company for aniline fabrication" |
| Aldi | Albrecht-Discount | Grocery chain named for founders Karl and Theo Albrecht; Aldi USA has 700 stores in 26 states. The Trader Joe's chain (200 stores) has been owned by German billionaire Theo Albrecht since 1979. |
| AOK | Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse | Germany's largest health insurance firm |
| Aral | Aromate (Benzol) + Aliphate (Benzin) | Petroleum/gasoline (Benzin) company |
| ARD | Arbeitsgemeinschaft der öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten der Bundesrepublik Deutschland | Working Group of the Public Broadcasting Organizations of the Federal Republic of Germany, a radio and TV network |
| Note: The ARD is a conglomerate of each of Germany's state and regional broadcasters. It also runs the national Erstes Deutsches Fernsehen TV network. Also see ZDF. | ||
| Aspirin | Acetylsalicylsäure + spir from spirea (Wiesenspierstaude/) + in (suffix = "found in") | "Aspirin" is a trademarked brand in Germany; developed by Bayer AG in 1897; see Inventions |
| Note: The German chemist Felix Hoffmann at Bayer in Germany chemically synthesized a form of ASA powder that relieved his father's rheumatism. The compound later became the active ingredient in aspirin named - "a" from acetyl, "spir" from the spirea plant (which yields salicin) and "in," a common suffix for medications. Also see: Bayer - 100 Years of Aspirin. | ||
| AUA | Austrian Airlines | "A Star Alliance Member" now called simply "Austrian" |
| Audi | Audi (Latin) | Named for founder August Horch, whose last name means "listen" - car's name is a play on the Latin for "listen" and August |
| B | ||
| BASF | Badische Anilin- und Sodafabrik | Baden Aniline and Soda Factory |
| BMG | Bertelsmann Music Group | Privately owned Bertelsmann is the world's second largest media concern, behind Time-Warner |
| BMW | Bayrische Motorenwerke | Bavarian Motor Works |
| C | ||
| C&A | Clemens & August Brenninkmeyer | From the first names of the founders of this popular clothing chain |
| D | ||
| DB | Deutsche Bahn | The German railway, the privatized (1994) version of the former Deutsche Bundesbahn |
| DEA | Deutsche Erdöl-Aktiengesellschaft | "German Petroleum Co." |
| dpa | Deutsche Presse-Agentur | German Press Agency, a news service like AP |
| DPD | Deutscher Paketdienst | A German UPS, founded in 1976 |
| E | ||
| EADS | European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. | EADS, formerly Daimler Aerospace, makes the Airbus and military aircraft/rockets |
| Eduscho | Eduard Schopf | From the name of the founder of this Austrian coffee firm; now owned by Tchibo/Eduscho (Germany), founded by Max Herz and Carl Tchilling-Hiryan in 1949 - Tchibo history. |
| F | ||
| Fewa | Feinwaschmittel | A German "fine detergent" brand |
| H | ||
| Haribo | Hans Riegel, Bonn | Candy company founded in Bonn in 1920 and named for Hans Riegel, the owner of the firm formerly called Heinen & Riegel; famous for gummy bears |
| HB | Haus Bergmann | German tobacco brand from BAT (British American Tobacco GmbH, 1926) |
| Hertie | Hermann Tietz | Department store chain named for its founder; now part of Karstadt AG |
| I | ||
| IKEA | Ingvar Kamprad, Elmtaryd, Agunnaryd | Swedish firm named for its founder plus the farm and town where he grew up |
MORE German Brands > K-Z
Related Pages
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