der Kauf
purchase
The process of acquiring something in exchange for payment; the act of buying.
EXAMPLE
Der Kauf des Hauses muss notariell beglaubigt werden.
The purchase of the house must be notarized.
der Kauf
purchase
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Meanings
der Kauf
purchase
The thing that was bought; the acquired item.
EXAMPLE
Diese Jacke war ein wirklich guter Kauf, sie war stark reduziert.
This jacket was a really good purchase; it was heavily reduced.
in Kauf nehmen
to accept
To consciously accept a disadvantage or inconvenience in order to achieve a desired goal.
EXAMPLE
Für seinen Traumjob nahm er auch einen längeren Arbeitsweg in Kauf.
For his dream job, he also accepted a longer commute.
Usage tips
Word family
'Der Kauf' (the purchase) is the noun corresponding to the verb 'kaufen' (to buy). It describes either the act of buying or the thing that was bought.
EXAMPLE
Wir müssen den Kauf der neuen Waschmaschine gut planen.
We need to plan the purchase of the new washing machine carefully.
Sentence structure and usage
To say what is being bought, German often uses the genitive or the preposition 'von' with the dative. The genitive is more formal.
EXAMPLE
Der Kauf des alten Hauses war eine große Entscheidung.
The purchase of the old house was a big decision.
Typical adjectives
When 'der Kauf' (the purchase) refers to the thing that was bought, it is often used with evaluative adjectives such as 'ein guter' (a good), 'ein schlechter' (a bad), 'ein teurer' (an expensive), or 'ein günstiger Kauf' (a cheap/good-value purchase).
EXAMPLE
Das Fahrrad für nur 100 Euro war ein wirklich günstiger Kauf.
The bike for only 100 euros was a really good-value purchase.
Fixed expression
The expression 'etwas in Kauf nehmen' means to consciously accept a disadvantage in order to achieve a goal. The disadvantage that is accepted is in the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Um am Meer zu wohnen, nehme ich die hohe Miete in Kauf.
In order to live by the sea, I accept the high rent.
Compare with
Kauf vs Übernahme
takeover / assumption
When a company is bought, the paid transaction is the focus. Übernahme, by contrast, refers to the fact that one company thereby gains control over another. When the price and the purchase transaction are at issue, Kauf is appropriate; when the change of control is the focus, Übernahme is more suitable.
Kauf
Der Kauf der Firma kostete den Konzern zehn Millionen Euro.
The purchase of the company cost the group ten million euros.
Übernahme
Nach der Übernahme kontrolliert der Konzern alle Entscheidungen der Firma.
After the takeover, the group controls all of the company's decisions.
In real life
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