German word

Krämer

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈkʁɛːmɐ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounshopkeeper

Example

Der Krämer hat einen kleinen Laden.

The shopkeeper has a small shop.

Illustration for Krämer (shopkeeper)

More examples

Beim Stadtfest verkauft der Krämer lokale Spezialitäten.

At the town festival, the shopkeeper sells local specialties.

Core concept

A modest trader handling assorted useful wares in a tiny shop or at a stall rather than running a large business.

Common phrases

  • beim Krämer einkaufen

    shop at the shopkeeper's

  • der Krämer des Viertels

    the neighborhood shopkeeper

  • ein kleiner Krämer

    a small shopkeeper

Similar words

Ladenbesitzer: Someone who owns and manages a small retail shop.
Inhaber: The officially registered owner of a business or shop.
Verkäufer: A person employed to sell products in a store.

Definition in German

Eine Person, die in einem kleinen Laden oder an einem Marktstand Haushaltswaren und Kleinigkeiten verkauft.

Word origin

The word comes from Middle High German kræmer, an agent noun built on Kram for goods or merchandise.

Usage tips

  • In present-day German, Krämer often sounds old-fashioned, so Ladenbesitzer or Händler is usually more neutral for a current shopkeeper.

Other meanings

  • small tradernoun
  • peddlernoun

Opposites

  • Großhändlerwholesalernoun

Related words

  • Krämerladenshopkeeper's shopnoun
  • Krämermarktpeddler's marketnoun

Word lists with this word