Today's words · 🛒 Online shopping
From basket to returns: German online shopping in 10 words
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Ever got lost on a German shopping site looking for the checkout button?
The first time I bought shoes online in Germany, every button had a long word on it: Warenkorb, Versandkosten, Rücksendung… And of course they didn't fit, so I had to send them back.
Today's ten words are the ones you'll see on screen when you shop online. With them you can order, track delivery, return things and even leave a review on your own. 🛒
📋 The ten words at a glance
- online — online
- bestellen — to order; to book
- die Bestellung — order
- liefern — to deliver, to supply
- der Versand — shipping, dispatch
- die Versandkosten — shipping costs, postage
- zurückschicken — to send back, to return
- die Rücksendung — return (of goods)
- die Bewertung — evaluation, assessment; rating, review
- der Warenkorb — basket of goods (for price statistics); (online) shopping basket
🧠 Words, examples and memory tricks
online
[ON-line]online📌 Ich kaufe meistens online ein.
→ I mostly shop online.
💡 Borrowed straight from English 💻 Used just the same in German sentences.
Bonus online einkaufen = to shop online
bestellen
[buh-SHTEL-en]to order; to book(bestellt – hat bestellt)
📌 Ich bestelle einen Cappuccino, bitte.
→ I'll have a cappuccino, please.
💡 be- + stellen (to put) = have something put in front of you 🍽️ Works in cafés and online.
Bonus Perfect: Ich habe Schuhe bestellt.
die Bestellung
[buh-SHTEL-oong]order(Pl. die Bestellungen)
📌 Kann ich Ihre Bestellung aufnehmen?
→ May I take your order?
💡 bestellen + -ung = order 📦 Words ending in -ung are always die.
Bonus eine Bestellung aufgeben = to place an order
liefern
[LEE-fern]to deliver, to supply(liefert – hat geliefert)
📌 Wir liefern auch am Wochenende.
→ We deliver at weekends too.
💡 From French livrer 🚚 Spot the -liver- in English deliver!
Bonus The delivery itself is die Lieferung.
der Versand
[fair-ZANT]shipping, dispatch(Sg.)
📌 Der Versand dauert in der Regel zwei bis drei Werktage.
→ Shipping usually takes two to three working days.
💡 The noun from versenden, to send out 📮 You can see English send inside.
⚠ Usually no plural: Der Versand dauert zwei Tage.
die Versandkosten
[fair-ZANT-kos-ten]shipping costs, postage(nur Pl.)
📌 Ab 50 Euro entfallen die Versandkosten.
→ Shipping is free on orders over 50 euros.
💡 Versand (shipping) + Kosten (costs) 💸 Free shipping is versandkostenfrei!
⚠ Always plural: die Versandkosten.
zurückschicken
[tsoo-RÜK-shik-en]to send back, to return(schickt zurück – hat zurückgeschickt)
📌 Die Schuhe passen nicht, ich schicke sie zurück.
→ The shoes don't fit, I'm sending them back.
💡 zurück (back) + schicken (to send) = send back ↩️
⚠ Separable: Ich schicke die Schuhe zurück.
die Rücksendung
[RÜK-zen-doong]return (of goods)(Pl. die Rücksendungen)
📌 Die Rücksendung ist innerhalb von 30 Tagen kostenlos.
→ Returns are free within 30 days.
💡 Rück (back) + Sendung (parcel) = a return 📦 -ung, so die.
Bonus A returns label is das Rücksendeetikett.
die Bewertung
[buh-VAIR-toong]evaluation, assessment; rating, review(Pl. die Bewertungen)
📌 Das Restaurant hat sehr gute Bewertungen.
→ The restaurant has very good reviews.
💡 Wert (worth) is inside ⭐ Saying what something is worth = a review.
Bonus eine Bewertung schreiben = to write a review
der Warenkorb
[VAH-ren-korp]basket of goods (for price statistics); (online) shopping basket(Pl. die Warenkörbe)
📌 Das Statistische Bundesamt berechnet die Inflation anhand eines repräsentativen Warenkorbs.
→ The Federal Statistical Office calculates inflation using a representative basket of goods.
💡 Ware (wares) + Korb (basket) = shopping basket 🧺 Korb is der, so it's der.
Bonus In den Warenkorb = Add to basket (you'll see it on every shop button)
🇩🇪 A spoonful of German culture
In Germany you can usually return things bought online within 14 days without giving a reason. This is called the Widerrufsrecht. Who pays for return postage depends on the shop, though.
If you're out when a parcel arrives, a neighbour often takes it in for you. If you find a card in your letterbox, check with your neighbours, the local post office or a parcel locker (Packstation).
Paying after delivery by invoice, called Kauf auf Rechnung, is also quite popular in Germany. 🧾
✅ Quick quiz
Q. The shoes you bought online don't fit. What do you tell your friend?
- ① Ich bestelle sie noch einmal.
- ② Ich schicke sie zurück.
- ③ Die Lieferung ist kostenlos.
Show the answer
② Ich schicke sie zurück.
zurückschicken means to send back, so you're returning them.
Switch a shopping app or website to German today and hunt for today's words. Adding to the Warenkorb is fine — checking out is optional! 😉
🔜 Tomorrow's topic: 💬 Messaging & group chats