What's the English word for Gutschein?

Ever held a Gutschein and thought, "Wait... what's the English word for this?" It's not a one-to-one translation, but luckily, there's a simple way to say it — and a few things to keep in mind when using it.

What is a gift certificate?

A Gutschein in English is best translated as a "gift certificate" or a "gift voucher." It's a prepaid document or digital code that someone can use to pay for a product or service — like a meal, a spa treatment, or a shopping spree.

You'll often see gift certificates at places like restaurants, spas and salons, retail stores, and online shops. Here's how people might talk about them in conversation:

"She got me a gift certificate for my favorite sushi place."

"He surprised me with a gift voucher for a massage!"

"I used a gift certificate to buy these shoes."

"They sent me a digital gift voucher after I returned my order."

Sometimes, stores also call them store credit, especially when they're given for returns instead of refunds. For instance:

"I returned the jacket, and instead of a refund, they gave me store credit."

"The store didn't have my size, so they issued me store credit to use later."

Gift certificate vs. gift card

People sometimes use gift certificate and gift card interchangeably, but they're not exactly the same. The main difference is in how they look and how they're used.

A gift certificate is usually paper-based or digital and often has a set value. It's meant for a specific business — like a restaurant, spa, or store.

"My boss gave me a $50 gift certificate for a nice steakhouse."

"She won a digital gift certificate for a free haircut at the salon."

A gift card, on the other hand, is usually a plastic card (or a digital version) that works like a prepaid debit card. It can sometimes be reloaded and used multiple times.

"I got an Amazon gift card for my birthday, so I can buy whatever I want."

"This store lets you reload your gift card instead of buying a new one."

Another key difference? Some gift cards (like Visa or Mastercard gift cards) can be used almost anywhere, while gift certificates are usually limited to one business.

How people use gift certificates in the U.S.

Gift certificates are a popular go-to gift in the U.S., especially for birthdays, holidays, and special occasions. They're also commonly given as corporate gifts or prizes.

You'll often hear people mention them in conversations like this:

"I didn't know what to get her, so I bought a gift certificate to her favorite store."

"My company gave us all gift certificates as a holiday bonus!"

"They raffled off a $100 gift certificate at the event."

Businesses also use them as promotions or customer rewards:

"Sign up today and get a free gift certificate!"

"We're giving away gift certificates to our first 50 customers."

Gift certificates make gifting easy, no matter where you are — and now you'll always know exactly what to call them. So next time you're giving (or getting) one, you can just enjoy the moment because let's be honest, who doesn't love a gift they get to pick themselves?

Still not sure how to use it? Watch our Daily Dose of Denglisch Docs to get a feel for how it sounds.