das Cash
cash
Cash; money in the form of coins and banknotes.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe leider nicht genug Cash dabei, kann ich mit Karte zahlen?
Unfortunately, I don't have enough cash with me. Can I pay by card?
das Cash
cash
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Meanings
Cash auf die Hand
cash in hand
A payment made directly in cash and often without an official invoice, frequently in order to avoid taxes or contributions.
EXAMPLE
Für die kleine Reparatur wollte der Handwerker das Geld am liebsten Cash auf die Hand.
For the small repair, the tradesman preferred to get the money cash in hand.
Usage tips
Register and origin
'Cash' is a word from English and is used mainly in informal colloquial language. It sounds more modern and casual than the German word for cash.
EXAMPLE
Sorry, ich hab grad kein Cash, nur die Karte.
Sorry, I don't have any cash right now, only my card.
Grammatical use
In German, 'Cash' is treated as a neuter noun ('das Cash'). It is used almost exclusively in the singular as an uncountable word, similar to 'Geld' (money) or 'Wasser' (water).
EXAMPLE
Für den Flohmarkt brauchst du genug Cash.
You need enough cash for the flea market.
Typical collocations
Common everyday phrases are 'Cash dabeihaben' (to have cash with you), 'mit Cash zahlen' (to pay with cash), or the question 'Nehmen Sie auch Cash?' (Do you also take cash?). It emphasizes payment with bills and coins.
EXAMPLE
Auf dem Wochenmarkt zahle ich immer mit Cash.
At the weekly market, I always pay with cash.
Fixed expression
The expression 'Cash auf die Hand' (cash in hand) is a fixed unit. It describes a cash payment without an invoice, often with the intention of avoiding taxes or social security contributions.
EXAMPLE
Für die Gartenarbeit hat er 100 Euro Cash auf die Hand bekommen.
He got 100 euros cash in hand for the gardening work.
Compare with
Cash vs Bargeld
cash
Bargeld and Cash both refer here to coins and banknotes. Bargeld is the neutral and unambiguous term, whereas Cash sounds more colloquial in the same sense. Bargeld is therefore usually suitable for a factual statement, while Cash can also be used in casual conversation.
Cash
Im Gespräch sagt Nina, dass sie das Brot mit Cash bezahlt hat.
In conversation, Nina says that she paid for the bread with cash.
Bargeld
An der Kasse bezahlt Nina das Brot mit Bargeld.
Nina pays for the bread with cash at the checkout.
In real life
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