einkaufen
to shop
To buy everyday goods, especially groceries, in stores.
EXAMPLE
Freitagnachmittag gehe ich immer für das Wochenende einkaufen.
On Friday afternoons, I always go shopping for the weekend.
einkaufen
to shop
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Meanings
sich einkaufen
to buy into
To acquire a share or position in a company, organization, or project through a financial investment.
EXAMPLE
Um Partner zu werden, musste er sich mit einer hohen Summe in die Kanzlei einkaufen.
To become a partner, he had to buy into the law firm with a large sum of money.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Einkaufen' (to shop) is a separable verb. The prefix 'ein-' comes at the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Ich kaufe schnell für das Abendessen ein.
I'll quickly shop for dinner.
Use without an object
'Einkaufen' (to shop) is often used without a direct object to describe the general activity of shopping. A very common combination is 'einkaufen gehen' (to go shopping).
EXAMPLE
Am Samstagvormittag gehen viele Leute einkaufen.
Many people go shopping on Saturday mornings.
Fixed structure
This special meaning has a fixed grammatical structure: 'sich in etwas (Akkusativ) einkaufen' (to buy into something). Here the verb is always reflexive.
EXAMPLE
Der Investor wollte sich in den erfolgreichen Fußballverein einkaufen.
The investor wanted to buy into the successful football club.
Register
This meaning of 'einkaufen' (to buy into) is used almost exclusively in an economic or business context. It is about becoming part of something through money.
EXAMPLE
Sie hat sich in die Anwaltskanzlei eingekauft und ist jetzt Partnerin.
She bought into the law firm and is now a partner.
Compare with
einkaufen vs kaufen
to buy
Kaufen usually focuses on a specific item acquired in exchange for money. Einkaufen refers more to the overall activity of getting groceries or other everyday necessities. So kaufen is appropriate for individual products, while einkaufen refers to shopping as an activity.
einkaufen
Mia kauft im Supermarkt für die ganze Woche ein.
Mia does the grocery shopping for the whole week at the supermarket.
kaufen
Mia kauft im Supermarkt eine Packung Reis.
Mia buys a packet of rice at the supermarket.
In real life
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