die Wucherpreise
Translation
exorbitant prices, price gouging, extortionate prices, usurious prices
Examples
Er verlangt Wucherpreise für das Wasser.
He's charging exorbitant prices for the water.
Die Touristen beschweren sich über Wucherpreise.
The tourists are complaining about exorbitant prices.
Grammar Patterns
Wucherpreise ((for sth.)) exorbitant prices for sth. Are you charging exorbitant prices for gasoline?
Similar Words
Synonyms: exorbitant prices, inflated prices; Antonyms: bargain prices (günstige Preise), rock-bottom prices (Schleuderpreise)
Etymology
A compound of 'Wucher' (usury, price gouging) and 'Preise' (prices). The root 'Wucher' comes from the verb 'wuchern', meaning 'to grow rampantly' or 'to practice usury'.
Memory Tips
Imagine a price that is 'whopping' ('Wucher') big. It's so high it feels like financial exploitation.