change
Loading your saved state.
change
The amount of money in the form of coins and small bills that you get back when you pay with a larger amount than the purchase price. Synonymous with 'Rückgeld' (change).
Ich habe mit einem 50-Euro-Schein bezahlt und warte noch auf mein Wechselgeld.
I paid with a 50-euro note and am still waiting for my change.
'Wechselgeld' (change) is made up of the verb 'wechseln' (to change / to exchange) and the noun 'das Geld' (money). So it is literally the money that 'changes' hands when paying and comes back.
Kannst du mir den Schein wechseln? Ich brauche Wechselgeld für den Automaten.
Can you change this bill for me? I need change for the machine.
In the context of paying, certain verbs are very typical: the seller 'gibt Wechselgeld heraus' (gives out change) and the customer 'bekommt Wechselgeld zurück' (gets change back). You can also pay 'passend' (with the exact amount), in which case you do not need any change.
Die Kassiererin hat mir zu wenig Wechselgeld herausgegeben.
The cashier gave me too little change.
'Wechselgeld' (change) is an uncountable noun (singulare tantum) and is always used in the singular, even when it refers to many coins and bills.
Bitte prüfen Sie Ihr Wechselgeld sofort.
Please check your change immediately.
If you say 'Stimmt so' (keep the change / that's fine) when paying, you signal that you are giving up the change. The remaining amount is then understood as a tip.
Die Rechnung ist 18 Euro. Ich gebe Ihnen 20 und sage: „Stimmt so!“
The bill is 18 euros. I give you 20 and say: 'Keep the change!'
small change
Kleingeld generally means low-value coins, for example for making a small payment. Wechselgeld, by contrast, is specifically the amount you get back after paying too much; it can include small bills as well as coins.
An der Kasse bezahlt Nora mit einem großen Schein und prüft danach das Wechselgeld.
At the checkout, Nora pays with a large bill and then checks her change.
An der Kasse bezahlt Nora den kleinen Betrag mit Kleingeld.
At the checkout, Nora pays the small amount with coins.
