Weight and Mass
This short guide goes over key German vocabulary for talking about weight and mass, useful at markets, stores, and kitchens.
Weight
Weight in German is usually das Gewicht and it is measured in units like kilograms and grams.
Vocabulary
| German Word(s) | English Word(s) |
|---|---|
| das Gewicht | the weight |
| ein Kilo (Kilogramm) | a kilo (kilogram) |
| ein Gramm | a gram |
| ein Pfund | a pound |
| eine Waage | a scale |
| German Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🌍 Die Waage zeigt mein Gewicht an. | The scale shows my weight. |
| 🏋️♂️ Er hebt Gewichte im Fitnessstudio. | He lifts weights at the gym. |
| ⚖️ Das Gewicht des Pakets ist zu hoch. | The weight of the package is too much. |
| 🧍 Mein Gewicht ist heute gleich geblieben. | My weight stayed the same today. |
| 🐶 Der Hund hat ein ordentliches Gewicht. | The dog has a decent weight. |
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Usage
When giving weight, use numbers with the unit and say the unit in the appropriate case if needed.
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Mass
Mass in everyday German often overlaps with weight, but die Masse can refer more to quantity of material or substance.
Vocabulary
| German Word(s) | English Word(s) |
|---|---|
| die Masse | the mass / amount |
| ein Liter | a liter |
| ein Milliliter | a milliliter |
| die Dichte | the density |
| das Volumen | the volume |
| German Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🥫 Die Masse der Dose beträgt 500 Gramm. | The mass of the can is 500 grams. |
| ⚗️ Im Labor misst man die Masse genau. | In the lab, they measure the mass precisely. |
| 🧴 Die Flüssigkeit hat eine bestimmte Masse. | The liquid has a specific mass. |
| 📦 Gesamtmasse des Pakets inklusive Inhalt. | Total mass of the package including contents. |
| 🧀 Die Masse des Käses wird gewogen. | The mass of the cheese is being weighed. |
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Usage
Use die Masse for an amount of material when you mean quantity rather than force, and pair with units like liters for volume.
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Market and Kitchen Terms
Key terms for containers and measures help when buying or cooking by weight or volume.
Vocabulary
| German Word(s) | English Word(s) |
|---|---|
| die Packung | the package |
| der Beutel | the bag / pouch |
| das Stück | the piece |
| die Dose | the can / tin |
| das Glas | the jar / glass |
| German Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🥖 Ich kaufe ein Brot und ein Kilo Mehl. | I’m buying a loaf of bread and a kilo of flour. |
| 🍎 Ein Pfund Äpfel kostet zwei Euro. | A pound of apples costs two euros. |
| 🧾 Die Verkäuferin wiegt das Obst ab. | The saleswoman weighs the fruit. |
| 🥬 300 Gramm Salat bitte. | 300 grams of salad, please. |
| 🥫 Eine Dose kostet einen Euro fünfzig. | One can costs one euro fifty. |
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Usage
Market and kitchen language pairs well with weight and mass terms to specify how much of something you want.
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Summary
Weight is usually das Gewicht and measured in units like Kilo and Gramm; mass as die Masse refers more to quantity of material.
Last updated: Tue Sep 16, 2025