Definition
A person who owns and operates a small retail store, selling goods directly to customers.
Etymology
Compound word from 'shop' (from Old Dutch 'schop') and 'keeper' (from Old English 'cepan' meaning 'to watch or guard').
Kelly Says
Before supermarkets and online shopping, shopkeepers were the heart of every town—they knew every customer's family, extended credit to trusted neighbors, and were often the source of community news and gossip!
Translations
AFAfrikaans
winkelier
vin-ke-LEER
AMአማርኛ
የዋና መደብ ባለቤት
ye-wa-na me-deb ba-le-bet
ARالعربية
صاحب متجر
saa-hib mat-jar
BGБългарски
собственик на магазин
sobst-ve-nik na ma-ga-ZIN
BNবাংলা
দোকানদার
do-kan-dar
CACatalà
botiguer
bo-ti-GER
CSČeština
obchodník
OB-khod-neek
DADansk
butiksejer
bu-teeks-AI-er
DEDeutsch
Ladenbesitzer
LA-den-be-zit-ser
ELΕλληνικά
καταστηματάρχης
ka-tas-ti-ma-TAR-khis
ESEspañol
tendero
ten-DE-ro
ETEesti
poe omanik
po-e o-MA-nik
EUEuskara
dendari
den-DA-ri
FAفارسی
فروشنده
fo-ro-shan-de
FISuomi
kauppias
KAUP-pi-as
FRFrançais
commerçant
ko-mer-SAHN
GLGalego
tendero
ten-DE-ro
HIहिन्दी
दुकानदार
du-kaan-daar
HRHrvatski
trgovac
trgo-VATS
IDBahasa Indonesia
pemilik toko
pe-mi-lik TO-ko
ITItaliano
negoziante
ne-go-tsyan-TE
LTLietuvių
parduotuvės savininkas
par-duo-TU-ves sa-vi-NIN-kas
LVLatviešu
veikala īpašnieks
vei-ka-la EE-pash-nyeks
MNМонгол
дэлгүүрийн эзэн
del-guur-iin e-zen
MSBahasa Melayu
peniaga kedai
pe-ni-a-ga ke-DAI
MYမြန်မာ
ဆိုင်ရှင်
hsin-shin
NLNederlands
winkelier
vin-ke-LEER
NONorsk
butikkeier
bu-tik-ke-AI-er
PLPolski
sklepikarz
skle-PI-karsh
PTPortuguês
lojista
lo-ZHIS-ta
RORomână
magaziner
ma-ga-zi-NER
RUРусский
владелец магазина
vla-DYE-lyets ma-ga-ZEE-na
SKSlovenčina
obchodník
OB-khod-neek
SLSlovenščina
trgovec
trgo-VETS
SRСрпски
продавац
pro-da-vats
SVSvenska
affärsinnehavare
af-fers-in-ne-HA-va-re
SWKiswahili
mwenye duka
mwe-nye DU-ka
TAதமிழ்
கடை உரிமையாளர்
ka-dai u-ri-mai-yaa-lar
TEతెలుగు
దుకాణం యజమాని
du-kaa-nam ya-ja-maa-ni
THไทย
เจ้าของร้าน
chao khong ran
TRTürkçe
dükkan sahibi
duk-KAN sa-hi-bi
UKУкраїнська
власник магазину
vlas-nyk ma-ha-ZY-nu
URاردو
دکان دار
du-kaan daar
VITiếng Việt
chủ cửa hàng
chu cua hang
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Shopkeeper traditionally assumed male; women shop owners were often erased from records or described as 'merchant's wife' rather than independent operators. Female merchants had substantial economic power historically.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'shopkeeper' neutrally without gendered qualifier. If historical, specify 'female shopkeeper' or 'woman shopkeeper' when documenting women's ownership.
Empowerment Note
Women operated shops, taverns, and markets across centuries; recognize them as independent economic agents, not auxiliary to male merchants.