# German — Consumer & Retail Sub-Lexicon

Auto-generated from translation experience. Maps German consumer and retail legal terms to
their correct English equivalents.

## Core Consumer Law Terms

| German | English |
|---|---|
| Verbraucher | consumer |
| Unternehmer | trader / business (in consumer law context) |
| Verbrauchervertrag | consumer contract |
| Kaufvertrag (Verbraucher) | consumer sale contract |
| Fernabsatzvertrag | distance contract |
| Außerhalb von Geschäftsräumen geschlossener Vertrag | off-premises contract / doorstep contract |
| Verbraucherschutz | consumer protection |
| Verbraucherschutzgesetz | consumer protection legislation |
| Allgemeine Geschäftsbedingungen (AGB) | general terms and conditions (GTC) |
| AGB-Kontrolle / Inhaltskontrolle | review of standard terms / unfairness test |
| Transparenzgebot | transparency requirement |
| Überraschende Klausel | surprising clause |
| Unangemessene Benachteiligung | unreasonable disadvantage / unfairness |
| Klauselverbot | prohibited clause |
| Klauselverbot mit Wertungsmöglichkeit | clause prohibition subject to judicial assessment |
| Klauselverbot ohne Wertungsmöglichkeit | absolute clause prohibition |
| Verbrauchsgüterkaufrichtlinie | Consumer Sales Directive |
| Verbraucherrechterichtlinie | Consumer Rights Directive |

## Withdrawal and Returns Terms

| German | English |
|---|---|
| Widerrufsrecht | right of withdrawal / right of cancellation |
| Widerrufsbelehrung | cancellation notice / withdrawal information |
| Widerrufsfrist | withdrawal period / cancellation period |
| Widerrufserklärung | declaration of withdrawal / notice of cancellation |
| Muster-Widerrufsformular | model withdrawal form |
| Widerrufsfolgen | consequences of withdrawal |
| Rückgaberecht | right of return |
| Rücksendung | return (of goods) |
| Rücksendekosten | return shipping costs |
| Rückerstattung / Rückzahlung | refund |
| Umtausch | exchange |
| Ausnahmen vom Widerrufsrecht | exceptions to the right of withdrawal |
| Erlöschen des Widerrufsrechts | expiry of the right of withdrawal |

## Warranty and Guarantee Terms

| German | English |
|---|---|
| Gewährleistung / Mängelgewährleistung | statutory warranty / warranty for defects |
| Garantie / Herstellergarantie | guarantee / manufacturer's guarantee |
| Sachmangel | material defect |
| Rechtsmangel | defect in title |
| Nacherfüllung | supplementary performance / cure |
| Nachbesserung | repair |
| Nachlieferung | replacement |
| Minderung | reduction of the purchase price |
| Rücktritt (vom Vertrag) | rescission / withdrawal from the contract |
| Schadensersatz (Verbraucherkauf) | damages (consumer sale) |
| Gewährleistungsfrist | warranty period |
| Beweislastumkehr | reversal of the burden of proof |
| Unerheblicher Mangel | minor defect / insignificant defect |
| Mangelfreiheit bei Gefahrübergang | conformity at the time of passing of risk |
| Vertragsgemäßheit / Vertragsmäßigkeit | conformity with the contract |

## E-Commerce Terms

| German | English |
|---|---|
| Onlineshop / Webshop | online shop / e-commerce website |
| Elektronischer Geschäftsverkehr | electronic commerce / e-commerce |
| Impressum / Anbieterkennzeichnung | legal notice / imprint |
| Informationspflichten (E-Commerce) | information duties / disclosure requirements |
| Bestellvorgang / Bestellprozess | ordering process |
| Bestellbestätigung | order confirmation |
| Zahlungsart / Zahlungsmethode | payment method |
| Vorkasse | advance payment / prepayment |
| Rechnung / Kauf auf Rechnung | invoice / payment on account |
| Lieferzeit / Versandzeit | delivery time / shipping time |
| Versandkosten | shipping costs / delivery charges |
| Datenschutzerklärung | privacy policy / privacy notice |
| Cookie-Einwilligung | cookie consent |
| Newsletter-Einwilligung | newsletter consent |
| Double-Opt-in-Verfahren | double opt-in procedure |
| Bewertung / Kundenbewertung | review / customer review |
| Preisangabenverordnung (PAngV) | Price Indication Regulation (PAngV) |

## Product Liability and Safety Terms

| German | English |
|---|---|
| Produkthaftung | product liability |
| Produkthaftungsgesetz (ProdHaftG) | Product Liability Act (ProdHaftG) |
| Hersteller (Produkthaftung) | producer / manufacturer |
| Fehlerhaftes Produkt | defective product |
| Konstruktionsfehler | design defect |
| Fabrikationsfehler / Herstellungsfehler | manufacturing defect |
| Instruktionsfehler | failure to warn / inadequate instructions |
| Produktbeobachtungspflicht | duty to monitor products post-sale |
| Rückruf / Produktrückruf | product recall |
| Produktsicherheit | product safety |
| Produktsicherheitsgesetz (ProdSG) | Product Safety Act (ProdSG) |
| CE-Kennzeichnung | CE marking |
| Konformitätserklärung | declaration of conformity |
| Marktüberwachung | market surveillance |

## Advertising and Competition Terms

| German | English |
|---|---|
| Gesetz gegen den unlauteren Wettbewerb (UWG) | Act against Unfair Competition (UWG) |
| Unlautere geschäftliche Handlung | unfair commercial practice |
| Irreführende Werbung | misleading advertising |
| Vergleichende Werbung | comparative advertising |
| Abmahnung (UWG) | cease-and-desist letter / warning letter |
| Unterlassungserklärung | cease-and-desist undertaking |
| Vertragsstrafe (Unterlassungserklärung) | contractual penalty |
| Wettbewerbsverband / Abmahnverein | trade association (for unfair competition enforcement) |

## Section Headings

| German | English |
|---|---|
| ALLGEMEINE GESCHÄFTSBEDINGUNGEN | GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS |
| VERTRAGSSCHLUSS | FORMATION OF CONTRACT |
| PREISE UND ZAHLUNG | PRICES AND PAYMENT |
| LIEFERUNG UND VERSAND | DELIVERY AND SHIPPING |
| GEWÄHRLEISTUNG | WARRANTY |
| HAFTUNG | LIABILITY |
| DATENSCHUTZ | DATA PROTECTION |
| SCHLUSSBESTIMMUNGEN | FINAL PROVISIONS |

## Notes

- **§§ 305-310 BGB (AGB-Recht)**: German law on standard terms is far more protective
  of consumers than most common law jurisdictions. Courts actively review individual
  clauses for fairness (Inhaltskontrolle). AGB-Kontrolle has no direct common law
  equivalent — translate as "review of standard terms" with context note.
- **"Abmahnung" (UWG context)**: A formal warning letter demanding that a competitor
  cease an unfair practice, typically accompanied by a demand for a penalty-backed
  undertaking. A distinctly German enforcement mechanism. Translate as "cease-and-desist
  letter" or "warning letter".
- **Widerrufsrecht**: The 14-day withdrawal right for distance and off-premises contracts
  (implementing the EU Consumer Rights Directive). The Widerrufsbelehrung (cancellation
  notice) must meet strict formal requirements — errors can extend the withdrawal period
  to 12 months and 14 days.
- **"Beweislastumkehr"**: For consumer sales, German law presumes that any defect
  appearing within 12 months (previously 6 months, extended by the 2022 reform) existed
  at the time of delivery. Translate as "reversal of the burden of proof".
- **ProdHaftG**: Implements the EU Product Liability Directive. Strict liability of the
  producer — no fault required. Reference as "Product Liability Act (ProdHaftG)" on
  first mention.
- **"Impressum"**: Mandatory legal notice on websites under § 5 TMG (Telemediengesetz)
  and § 18 MStV. Must include company name, address, contact details, and registration
  information. Translate as "legal notice" or "imprint".
