new farmer / home builder
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new farmer
A person, usually a refugee or displaced person, who received land to cultivate after 1945 as part of the land reform in the Soviet Occupation Zone and later in East Germany.
Als Neubauer bekam sein Großvater nach dem Krieg ein kleines Stück Land zugewiesen.
As a new farmer, his grandfather was allocated a small piece of land after the war.
home builder
A person who builds or has a new building constructed, especially a residential house.
Die Neubauer feierten Richtfest für ihr zukünftiges Eigenheim.
The home builders celebrated the topping-out ceremony for their future home.
The word is made up of 'neu' (new) and 'Bauer'. Depending on the context, 'Bauer' can mean a person who farms land or a person who builds something.
Der Neubauer hofft, dass sein Haus bald fertig ist.
The home builder hopes that his house will be finished soon.
You can tell which meaning is intended from the topic. If people are talking about the period after 1945, East Germany, or agriculture, the historical farmer is meant. If it is about house construction or architecture, the person building a house is meant.
Sein Großvater war Neubauer in Mecklenburg und bekam damals Land.
His grandfather was a new farmer in Mecklenburg and received land at the time.
This meaning is a fixed historical term referring to the land reform in the Soviet Occupation Zone and East Germany. It is used almost exclusively in this historical context.
Viele Neubauern waren Flüchtlinge aus den ehemaligen deutschen Ostgebieten.
Many new farmers were refugees from the former eastern German territories.
When referring to a person who is building a house, the word is often connected with typical house-building activities. These include 'das Richtfest feiern' (to celebrate the topping-out ceremony), 'den Grundriss planen' (to plan the floor plan), or 'eine Hypothek aufnehmen' (to take out a mortgage).
Die Neubauer feiern heute mit Freunden und Familie das Richtfest.
The home builders are celebrating the topping-out ceremony with friends and family today.
farmer / pawn
Bauer generally refers to a person who works in agriculture. Neubauer, by contrast, is a more specific historical term for someone who received land to cultivate after 1945 as part of the land reform. Use Bauer in general and Neubauer only in this historical context.
Der Neubauer erhielt nach 1945 Land zur Bewirtschaftung.
After 1945, the new farmer received land to cultivate.
Der Bauer bewirtschaftet seit vielen Jahren seinen Hof.
The farmer has been working his farm for many years.
