black market
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black market
An illegal market where goods are traded because they are scarce, prohibited, or to avoid taxes and customs duties.
Nach dem Krieg blühte der Schwarzmarkt für Lebensmittel und Zigaretten.
After the war, the black market for food and cigarettes flourished.
The word is made up of 'schwarz' (black) and 'Markt' (market). The color 'schwarz' is used here metaphorically for 'illegal' or 'unofficial,' similar to 'Schwarzarbeit' (undeclared work) or 'schwarzfahren' (to ride without a ticket).
Wegen der hohen Steuern gibt es einen Schwarzmarkt für importierte Elektronik.
Because of the high taxes, there is a black market for imported electronics.
To express that something is traded on this illegal market, German uses the preposition 'auf' with the dative: 'auf dem Schwarzmarkt' (on the black market).
Manche Ersatzteile für alte Autos bekommt man nur noch auf dem Schwarzmarkt.
Some spare parts for old cars can now only be found on the black market.
Common verbs used with 'Schwarzmarkt' (black market) are 'blühen' (to flourish), 'entstehen' (to develop/emerge), as well as 'etwas kaufen/verkaufen/handeln' (to buy/sell/trade something).
In Krisenzeiten entsteht oft ein Schwarzmarkt für Güter des täglichen Bedarfs.
In times of crisis, a black market for everyday goods often develops.
