Buch

Buch is the German word for a book, a bound and usually printed or handwritten collection of pages that conveys information, stories, or reference material. In everyday use it covers fiction, non-fiction, textbooks, and reference works; the plural is Bücher. Many compounds describe formats or kinds of books, such as Lehrbuch (textbook), Sachbuch (non-fiction), Bilderbuch (picture book), Taschenbuch (paperback), or Gebundene Ausgabe (hardcover).

Etymology and cognates: Buch is cognate with Dutch boek, English book, and Swedish bok. The origin is linked to Proto-Germanic roots connected with writing materials, sometimes associated with beech wood used for early write tablets; the precise history is debated. The sense of a bound volume developed in the Middle Ages with the codex.

History and production: Books began as hand-copied manuscripts; the invention of movable type and later industrial printing in Europe enabled mass production. Paper, binding technology, and widespread literacy contributed to the modern book as a cultural and economic object. Books have long been central to education, religion, science, and culture, and remain important in libraries, bookstores, and publishing today.

Modern formats and usage: Digital formats such as e-books and audiobooks complement printed books and influence reading habits and distribution.

Other uses: Buch may also occur as a surname in German-speaking regions and in place names.