noun
trade, commerce
B1
Handel: 'trade' or 'commerce', referring to buying and selling goods or business activity. German noun: der Handel. Often uncountable or invariant plural (Handel), genitive des Handels. Use in compounds (Außenhandel = foreign trade). Singular form used for general and specific trade contexts.
Examples
Die Firma erweiterte den Handel, weil das Team neue Lieferanten fand und mehr Waren anbieten wollte.
The company expanded its trade because the team found new suppliers and wanted to offer more goods.
Der Handel mit exotischen Waren wächst jedes Jahr.
Trade in exotic goods grows every year.
Der internationale Handel ist für die Wirtschaft sehr wichtig.
International trade is very important for the economy.
Details
Mnemonics
two people shaking hands after a deal to remember trade/commerce
sounds like 'hand' + 'el' — think of hands exchanging goods
der — imagine 'der Handel' as a strong, concrete concept (masculine)
Notes
Often used as a mass noun in German (unchanged in many contexts). Can refer to both retail trade and international commerce. | Mass noun/singular-only; plural declension forms are not applicable.