Why does "Krabben" mean shrimp?

Question

I was in a pizza place in Bad Herrenalb (in Baden-Württemberg) the other day, and I ordered a pizza that included "Krabben". I like crab, so I ordered it, only to find that it came covered with shrimp.My dictionary says that Krabbe means crab, and that Krabben is the plural. So how did I end up with a pizza full of shrimp instead?

Answer 1

Hello,

The translation for crab is Krabbe, singular, plural Krabben. Shrimp is Garnele or Krevette, I guess you wanted to order eine Pizza mit Krabbenfleisch, Krebs.

In restaurants they often serve Krabben, correct Nordsee-Krabben (North Sea) or Nordsee-Garnelen as shrimp, even though crab means Krebs in German. Normally Krustentiere, crustaceans, such as lobsters, crabs etc. have scissors.