This document provides key German vocabulary for talking about length and distance, including units of measurement and common phrases.
Units of Measurement
German length and distance vocabulary is built around a set of standard units, many of which are the same as in English but with German names. Here are the most common units you’ll need to know:
- Millimeter (Millimeter, mm): The smallest common unit, used for very precise measurements.
- Zentimeter (Zentimeter, cm): One-hundredth of a meter, often used in daily life.
- Meter (Meter, m): The base unit of length in the metric system.
- Kilometer (Kilometer, km): Equal to 1,000 meters, used for measuring longer distances.
- Meile (Meile): Mile; not commonly used in Germany but understood.
- Fuß (Fuß): Foot; used mainly in contexts relating to English-speaking countries.
- Zoll (Zoll): Inch; generally used in technical contexts.
Each unit is used with the appropriate plural (e.g., Meter stays Meter, but Kilometer becomes Kilometer, and Fuß becomes Füße).
Here is a table with these units and example sentences:
| German Singular | German Plural | English Singular | English Plural | German Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Millimeter | Millimeter | millimeter | millimeters | Der Spalt ist nur einen Millimeter breit. | The gap is only one millimeter wide. |
| Zentimeter | Zentimeter | centimeter | centimeters | Der Bleistift ist 15 Zentimeter lang. | The pencil is 15 centimeters long. |
| Meter | Meter | meter | meters | Das Zimmer ist 5 Meter groß. | The room is 5 meters large. |
| Kilometer | Kilometer | kilometer | kilometers | Wir sind 10 Kilometer gelaufen. | We walked 10 kilometers. |
| Meile | Meilen | mile | miles | Eine Meile entspricht etwa 1,6 Kilometern. | One mile is about 1.6 kilometers. |
| Fuß | Füße | foot | feet | Der Tisch ist drei Fuß hoch. | The table is three feet high. |
| Zoll | Zoll | inch | inches | Der Bildschirm ist 15 Zoll groß. | The screen is 15 inches large. |
Common Expressions
To talk naturally about length and distance in German, it’s helpful to know some common verbs and phrases:
- lang sein (to be long): Der Fluss ist 500 Kilometer lang. (The river is 500 kilometers long.)
- entfernt sein (to be distant): Das Dorf ist 20 Kilometer entfernt. (The village is 20 kilometers away.)
- messen (to measure): Wir messen den Tisch. (We are measuring the table.)
- weit (far): Ist es noch weit? (Is it still far?)
- nahe (near): Das Ziel ist ganz nahe. (The destination is very near.)
These words help you describe distances more fluently. Here are some examples:
| German Phrase | English Translation | German Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ... lang sein | to be ... long | Die Brücke ist 100 Meter lang. | The bridge is 100 meters long. |
| ... entfernt sein | to be ... away | Das Museum ist drei Kilometer entfernt. | The museum is three kilometers away. |
| messen | to measure | Kannst du das Fenster messen? | Can you measure the window? |
| weit | far | Wie weit ist es bis zum Bahnhof? | How far is it to the train station? |
| nahe | near | Der Supermarkt ist ganz nahe. | The supermarket is very near. |
| einen Schritt machen | to take a step | Mach einen Schritt nach vorne. | Take a step forward. |
| auf ... zugehen | to walk towards ... | Wir gehen auf das Gebäude zu. | We are walking towards the building. |
| Abstand halten | to keep distance | Bitte halten Sie Abstand. | Please keep distance. |
Translate into German: Take a step forward.
Mach einen Schritt nach vorne.
'einen Schritt machen' means 'to take a step,' and 'nach vorne' means 'forward.'
Additional Concepts
- Abstand (distance/spacing): Used when talking about space between objects.
- Gegenüber (opposite/across): Der Park liegt gegenüber der Schule. (The park is opposite the school.)
- Um ... herum (around): Wir laufen um den See herum. (We walk around the lake.)
- bis zu (up to): Die Strecke ist bis zu 50 Kilometer lang. (The route is up to 50 kilometers long.)
These help you describe spatial relationships beyond just measuring length.
| German Word/Phrase | English Meaning | German Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstand | distance/spacing | Halte genug Abstand! | Keep enough distance! |
| gegenüber | opposite/across | Das Café ist gegenüber dem Bahnhof. | The café is across from the station. |
| um ... herum | around | Wir gehen um den Baum herum. | We’re walking around the tree. |
| bis zu | up to | Die Fahrt dauert bis zu zwei Stunden. | The trip takes up to two hours. |
Translate into German: The trip takes up to two hours.
Die Fahrt dauert bis zu zwei Stunden.
'bis zu' means 'up to,' indicating the maximum duration.
Summary
Understanding German vocabulary for length and distance involves three main parts:
- Units of measurement: from Millimeter to Kilometer (and a few English-based units).
- Common verbs and phrases: including lang sein, entfernt sein, messen, weit, and nahe.
- Spatial concepts: such as Abstand, gegenüber, um ... herum, and bis zu.
Together, these allow you to describe sizes, measure objects, and talk about how far away places are.
Flashcards (1 of 19)
- English Singular: millimeter
- English Plural: millimeters
- English Example: The gap is only one millimeter wide.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
