Kasse

Kasse is a feminine noun in German (die Kasse) with several related meanings, used across German-speaking countries to refer to money handling, payment points, and funds.

One common meaning is the cash register or checkout counter in shops, cafés, or other points of sale. The device and the place where customers pay are both referred to as the Kasse, and phrases such as an der Kasse bezahlen or zur Kasse gehen are widely understood. The person working there is the Kassier or Kassierin, and the area around the register may be called the Kassenbereich.

A second meaning is the cash on hand or available funds. In this sense, Kasse denotes the liquidity a person, business, or organization keeps for daily transactions. In accounting, terms like Kassenbestand or simply Kasse describe the cash held. Expressions such as Die Kasse ist leer illustrate the idea of cash running low or being exhausted.

Kasse is also used for the treasury or financial pool of an organization, club, association, or public body. In such contexts the Kasse is managed by a treasurer, known as the Kassier or Kassenwart, who is responsible for revenue, expenses, and reporting.

In broader terms, Kasse can refer to public or collective funds, including health insurance funds (Krankenkasse) and similar social funds, though the exact term varies by context.

Etymology: Kasse derives from the sense of a cash box or chest and has been extended to mean the cash register and the funds associated with it. The word is common in Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland.