In German
Bauer
Meaning: farmer
Formal or informal? “Bauer” is a farmer. The female form is “Bäuerin”. Note that “Bauer” also means a chess pawn, which is a different meaning.
Example sentences
Der Bauer arbeitet auf dem Feld.
The farmer works in the field.
Mein Großvater war Bauer.
My grandfather was a farmer.
Die Bäuerin verkauft Eier auf dem Markt.
The farmer's wife sells eggs at the market.
Grammar note
“Der Bauer” is masculine. It's a weak noun, so the accusative and dative take -n: “den Bauern” (accusative), “dem Bauern” (dative). The plural is “die Bauern”.
Common mistake
Use “den Bauern” in the accusative, not “den Bauer”. “Bauer” is a weak noun, so it takes -n in all cases except the nominative singular.
Quick check
Which German word means “farmer”?
More words on this topic
Keep learning German
Practise it in a lesson →Frequently asked questions
What is the female form of “Bauer”?
“Bäuerin”.
What is the accusative of “der Bauer”?
“Den Bauern”, with -n.