shopping center
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shopping center
A large building complex that brings together a variety of stores, service businesses, and often restaurants under one roof.
Am Samstag fahren wir zum Shoppen ins neue Einkaufszentrum am Stadtrand.
On Saturday, we're going shopping at the new shopping center on the outskirts of town.
The word is made up of 'Einkauf' (shopping), the linking element '-s-', and 'Zentrum' (center). So it literally describes a center for shopping.
Das neue Einkaufszentrum hat über 100 Geschäfte.
The new shopping center has over 100 stores.
Pay attention to the difference between direction and location. You drive 'ins Einkaufszentrum' (to the shopping center; accusative), but you are or shop 'im Einkaufszentrum' (in the shopping center; dative).
Fahren wir morgen ins Einkaufszentrum?
Shall we go to the shopping center tomorrow?
In spoken language and informal texts, the abbreviation 'EKZ' is often used.
Treffen wir uns um 15 Uhr vor dem EKZ?
Shall we meet at 3 p.m. in front of the shopping center?
department store
'Einkaufszentrum' and 'Kaufhaus' are both connected to a large place for shopping. An 'Einkaufszentrum' is an entire building complex with many different shops, often also with restaurants or services. A 'Kaufhaus', on the other hand, is one large store with many departments, for example for clothing, household goods, or electronics. Learners may confuse the words because you can buy many things in both places. If there are several independent shops under one roof, 'Einkaufszentrum' fits better. If everything belongs to one large store, you say 'Kaufhaus'.
Im neuen Einkaufszentrum gibt es einen Supermarkt, ein Kino und viele kleine Läden.
In the new shopping center, there is a supermarket, a movie theater, and many small shops.
Mein Bruder sucht im Kaufhaus eine Jacke und geht danach in die Abteilung für Schuhe.
My brother is looking for a jacket in the department store and then goes to the shoe department.