Bager

Bager is a Danish term that primarily denotes a baker, a person who bakes bread, pastries, and similar goods. In ordinary usage, a professional who works in a bakery is called a bager, and the workplace is a bageri, or bakery. The word also appears as a family name in Denmark and other Nordic countries.

In Danish grammar, bager is also the present-tense form of the verb bage, meaning “to bake.” For example, han bager brød means “he bakes bread.” The infinitive form of the verb is bage, and the noun bager and the verb form bager share the same spelling but are distinguished by context and pronunciation.

Etymology and related terms: The term derives from the baking trade and is cognate with related Germanic terms referring to bakers in other languages. The related noun for a place of business is bageri, and baked goods are produced by bakers in bakeries.

Usage and cultural context: Historically, bakers played a central role in towns and cities, supplying bread to households and institutions. In modern Danish, the profession continues to be represented in both artisanal and industrial bakeries, with many shops retaining traditional methods alongside mass production.

See also: bageri (bakery), baker.