German word

EC-Karte

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈeːtseːˌkaʁtə/

Meaning

  • feminine noundebit card

Example

Ich habe meine EC-Karte verloren.

I lost my debit card.

Illustration for EC-Karte (debit card)

More examples

Ich zahle meistens mit der EC-Karte.

I usually pay with a debit card.

Core concept

A bank card used at a checkout, with the purchase taken directly from the linked current account rather than charged later.

Common phrases

  • mit der EC-Karte bezahlen

    pay with a debit card

Similar words

Girocard: A widely used German bank card with debit payment functionality.
Debitkarte: A payment card that deducts the purchase amount from the bank account immediately.
Kreditkarte: A payment card that bills purchases later in one combined charge.
Bankkarte: A bank-issued card for cash withdrawals and payments.

Definition in German

Die EC-Karte bezeichnet in Deutschland eine Bankkarte, die beim Bezahlen das Girokonto sofort belastet und damit als typische Debitkarte fungiert.

Word origin

The abbreviation originally referred to Eurocheque, a European cheque system, and later became associated with electronic cash card payments.

Usage tips

  • EC-Karte is feminine, so standard forms include die EC-Karte, eine EC-Karte, and mehrere EC-Karten.

Other meanings

  • ATM cardnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • EC-Kartenzahlungdebit card paymentnoun
  • EC-Kartenleserdebit card readernoun

Word lists with this word