clientele
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clientele
The entirety of all customers of a store, company, or service. It is a collective term for the people who shop there or make use of services.
Der Bäcker kennt seine Stammkundschaft mit Namen.
The baker knows his regular clientele by name.
The word is derived from 'der Kunde' (the customer). The ending '-schaft' forms a collective term and groups all customers together, similar to 'Mannschaft' (team) or 'Belegschaft' (staff/workforce).
Die gesamte Kundschaft war mit dem neuen Service sehr zufrieden.
The entire clientele was very satisfied with the new service.
Although 'die Kundschaft' refers to many people, the word is grammatically singular. Therefore, the verb in the sentence is also in the singular.
Die Kundschaft wartet geduldig, bis das Geschäft öffnet.
The clientele waits patiently until the store opens.
A distinction is often made between 'Stammkundschaft' (regular customers) and 'Laufkundschaft' (walk-in customers, casual customers). Adjectives such as 'zufriedene' (satisfied) or 'treue' (loyal) with 'Kundschaft' are also common.
Ein kleines Café lebt oft von seiner treuen Stammkundschaft.
A small café often lives off its loyal regular clientele.
customer
Kunde refers to an individual person or organization and can therefore be counted. Kundschaft is a collective term for all the customers of a business or provider. Kunde is appropriate for a specific person, while Kundschaft refers to the group as a whole.
Heute wartet die Kundschaft vor der Bäckerei.
The clientele is waiting outside the bakery today.
Heute wartet ein Kunde vor der Bäckerei.
A customer is waiting outside the bakery today.
