Skip to content

Zöllner

customs officer

noun TSOEL-ner Rare
People & Society Professions

Origin: from Middle High German zollner

Also means

toll collector (historical)

Usage Note

Zöllner is used colloquially for a customs officer (Zollbeamter) who checks goods and passengers at borders. In biblical German Zöllner refers to a tax collector in the New Testament. In modern usage the official title is Zollbeamter or Zollinspektor. Feminine: Zöllnerin.

Examples

"Der Zöllner überprüfte den Koffer auf unverzollte Waren."

Natural Translation

The customs officer checked the suitcase for undeclared goods.

Literal Translation

The customs officer checked the suitcase for un-dutied goods.

Explore German by topic