German Compound Word Search
Extend Shopware 6 search with German compound word decomposition. Customers find products using any part of a compound word — powered by Elasticsearch.
The description shows what such a plugin can do. We tailor the scope to your shop after a short needs analysis and usually deliver within a few days.
In short
- Recover lost sales caused by failed compound-word queries in German-language stores
- Improve search relevance for customers who type word components rather than full compound terms
- Reduce zero-results search rates without manual synonym management or duplicated product data
Why this extension
Without the plugin
German compound words are a fundamental part of the language — and a persistent headache for e-commerce search. When a customer types "Schraube" into your Shopware 6 store, they expect to find "Terrassenschrauben." Without specialized analysis, the default search engine treats these as entirely different terms, leaving customers empty-handed and abandoning the search entirely.
With the plugin
This extension solves the problem at its root by integrating the Elasticsearch and OpenSearch hyphenation decompounder token filter directly into Shopware 6’s search pipeline. Combined with a custom dictionary you manage from the Shopware administration panel, the plugin intelligently breaks compound words into their components at index time — so every relevant product surfaces, regardless of how the customer phrases their query.
How it would work
- Configure Your Dictionary
Navigate to the plugin settings in the Shopware 6 administration panel and add the German compound word components relevant to your product catalog. For example, adding "Schraube" and "Terrasse" as dictionary entries allows the analyzer to decompose "Terrassenschrauben" at index time.
- Automatic Reindexing
Every time you save a change to the dictionary, the plugin automatically triggers a full reindex of your product catalog through Shopware 6's indexing pipeline. No manual CLI commands or scheduled tasks are needed — the catalog stays in sync with your dictionary configuration at all times.
- Improved Search Results
Once indexed, customer searches using any component of a compound word return the correct products. The decompounder token filter works at both indexing and query time, so partial-word and full-compound queries are matched consistently with appropriate relevance scoring.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a ready plugin I can buy?
No – it is a concept. We build it for your shop after a short needs analysis. Prices start at €100 and you get a fixed quote before we start.
Does this plugin require Elasticsearch or OpenSearch?
Yes. The compound word decompounder relies on the Elasticsearch or OpenSearch hyphenation token filter, so your Shopware 6 installation must have one of these search backends active. Shopware's native Elasticsearch integration is supported out of the box.
How large can the compound word dictionary be?
The dictionary is stored and managed through Shopware 6's database and passed to the Elasticsearch analyzer configuration. It scales to thousands of entries without performance impact on search queries, as decomposition happens at index time rather than at query time.
Will changing the dictionary slow down my store during reindexing?
Reindexing runs through Shopware 6's standard background indexing queue and does not affect storefront performance. For very large catalogs, reindexing may take several minutes, but customers continue to see the previous index results until the new index is fully built and swapped in.
Can this plugin be customized for industry-specific compound words?
Yes. The dictionary is fully open — you add exactly the word components relevant to your product range, whether that is construction materials, automotive parts, or any other sector with complex German terminology. The plugin imposes no restrictions on dictionary content.
Which Shopware versions are supported?
We build it for the version your shop runs: 6.5, 6.6 or 6.7. Updates for new Shopware versions are included as long as we stay in active contact.
How long does it take?
Usually 5–10 business days after the needs analysis, depending on the agreed scope.
All features
- Hyphenation decompounder token filter integration for Elasticsearch and OpenSearch, configured specifically for German morphology
- Custom compound word dictionary managed directly from the Shopware 6 administration panel – no server access or CLI commands required
- Automatic product catalog reindexing triggered on every dictionary save, ensuring search results always reflect the latest configuration
- Compound-aware query analyzer applied at both index time and search time for consistent, symmetrical matching
- Improved ranking for compound-word queries – partial component matches score relevantly alongside exact matches
- Compatible with Shopware 6's native search infrastructure – no replacement of core components, no conflicts with other search extensions
- Dictionary import and export support for managing large word lists across multiple store environments
Ask about a custom build
Describe your shop and what you need. We will get back to you with questions and a fixed quote after a short needs analysis.
Specifications
- Shopware
- 6.5, 6.6, 6.7
- Type
- Made to measure
- Delivery
- 5–10 business days
- Updated
- 22 Oct 2026
German Compound Word Search
from €100
Ask about a custom build