der Bauer
farmer
A person who works in agriculture, cultivates land and/or raises animals; a farmer.
EXAMPLE
Der Bauer fährt am frühen Morgen mit dem Traktor auf das Feld.
The farmer drives the tractor onto the field early in the morning.
der Bauer
farmer / pawn
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Meanings
der Bauer
pawn
The weakest, but most numerous, piece in chess.
EXAMPLE
Im Schach kann ein Bauer, der die gegnerische Grundlinie erreicht, in eine Dame umgewandelt werden.
In chess, a pawn that reaches the opponent's back rank can be promoted to a queen.
der Bauer
oaf / yokel
A derogatory term for an uneducated, uncultured, or clumsily behaved person.
EXAMPLE
Benimm dich nicht wie ein Bauer und iss mit Messer und Gabel!
Don't behave like an oaf, and eat with a knife and fork!
Usage tips
N-declension
'Bauer' is a noun of the N-declension. This means that in all cases except the nominative singular, it takes the ending '-n' or '-en'. This is a common source of errors.
EXAMPLE
Der Bauer arbeitet auf dem Feld.
The farmer works in the field.
Context clue
The meaning 'Spielfigur' (game piece) is only relevant in the context of games, especially chess. Words like 'Schach' (chess), 'Figur' (piece), 'ziehen' (to move), or 'opfern' (to sacrifice) point to this meaning.
EXAMPLE
Beim Schach ist der Bauer die schwächste Figur.
In chess, the pawn is the weakest piece.
Register
In this use, 'Bauer' is a derogatory term and is used as an insult. It describes a person who is perceived as uncultured or impolite.
EXAMPLE
Er nannte ihn einen Bauern, weil er mit den Händen aß.
He called him an oaf because he ate with his hands.
Compare with
Bauer vs Landwirt
farmer
Bauer and Landwirt can both refer to a person who works in agriculture. Bauer is more common in everyday speech and has a broader range of uses, while Landwirt sounds like a modern, professional job title. Bauer often fits private conversation, while Landwirt is more likely in professional information.
Bauer
Unser Nachbar ist Bauer und arbeitet jeden Tag auf seinem Hof.
Our neighbor is a farmer and works on his farm every day.
Landwirt
Unser Nachbar bezeichnet sich auf der Betriebsseite als Landwirt.
Our neighbor describes himself as a farmer on the farm's website.
In real life
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