# Bauer

/ˈbaʊɝ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bauer
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. German farmer

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Archaic

a traditional name for a German farmer or peasant.

For teachers: a German peasant or agricultural labourer, often used in historical or sociological discussions of Central European feudalism.

- The history book described the life of a typical bauer in the eighteenth century.
- The socio-economic status of the bauer shifted significantly following the land reforms of the early nineteenth century.

Usage: Often capitalised in German, but usually lowercase when used as a common noun in English historical texts.

Teaching tip: This is a very rare word in modern English outside of academic history or genealogy.

### 2. card games

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Dialect

the name for the jack in certain card games like Euchre.

For teachers: the jack of the trump suit or the other suit of the same colour in games such as Euchre.

- He won the hand because he held the right bauer.
- In a game of Euchre, the right bauer is the highest-ranking card, followed immediately by the left bauer.

Usage: Commonly used in the context of specific trick-taking card games.

Teaching tip: Learners will likely only encounter this in specific regions where games like Euchre or Pinochle are popular.

## Examples

- The bauer worked in the fields from sunrise to sunset.
- Historical documents from the region describe the bauer as a central figure in the village's social and economic structure.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.