das
Gewicht
📖 What does "das Gewicht" mean?
Das Gewicht (noun, neuter) mainly has two meanings:
- Physical mass / heaviness: It describes how heavy an object is, often measured in kilograms or pounds.
Example: "Das Gewicht des Pakets beträgt fünf Kilogramm." (The weight of the package is five kilograms.) - Importance / significance / emphasis: It can also refer to the relevance, influence, or stress placed on something.
Example: "Seine Worte hatten großes Gewicht in der Diskussion." (His words carried great weight in the discussion.)
There are no common pitfalls, as the word consistently uses the article das.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Ge- → mostly neutral.
Nouns beginning with Ge- are usually neutral, unless other rules apply. We do not list all Ge nouns.
Ge- → mostly neutral.
Nouns beginning with Ge- are usually neutral, unless other rules apply. We do not list all Ge nouns.
📚 Grammar in Detail: Declension of "das Gewicht"
"Das Gewicht" is a noun of neuter gender (Neutrum). It is declined as follows:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | das | Gewicht |
| Genitive | des | Gewicht(e)s |
| Dative | dem | Gewicht(e) |
| Accusative | das | Gewicht |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Gewichte |
| Genitive | der | Gewichte |
| Dative | den | Gewichten |
| Accusative | die | Gewichte |
Example Sentences 🗣️
- Nominative: Das Gewicht ist entscheidend für den Transport. (The weight is crucial for transport.)
- Genitive: Die Messung des Gewichts war sehr präzise. (The measurement of the weight was very precise.)
- Dative: Wir legen Wert auf geringes Gewicht. (We value low weight.)
- Accusative: Er konnte das Gewicht kaum heben. (He could hardly lift the weight.)
- Plural: Die Hantelbank hat verschiedene Gewichte. (The weight bench has different weights.)
💡 How to use "das Gewicht"?
Usage strongly depends on the context:
- In everyday life & sports: Often refers to body weight ("Ich muss auf mein Gewicht achten." - I need to watch my weight.) or dumbbells in the gym ("Er stemmt schwere Gewichte." - He lifts heavy weights.).
- In physics & engineering: Here, it denotes the physical quantity of mass or the force of weight. ("Das spezifische Gewicht von Blei ist hoch." - The specific weight of lead is high.)
- Figuratively: Used to express importance or influence. ("Man sollte seinen Argumenten mehr Gewicht verleihen." - One should give more weight to one's arguments.)
Distinction:
- Masse vs. Gewicht: Physically, Masse (mass) is a property of the body, while Gewicht (weight) is the force acting upon it (mass x gravitational acceleration). In everyday language, the terms are often used synonymously.
- Bedeutung vs. Gewicht: While Bedeutung (meaning, significance) is more general, Gewicht often emphasizes the influence or impact of a statement or person.
🧠 Mnemonics
For the article 'das': Think of 'das Kilogramm' or 'das Pfund' – units of measurement are often neuter in German, just like das Gewicht.
For the meanings: Imagine a scale (eine Waage). On one side is a heavy object (physical Gewicht), on the other an important argument (figurative Gewicht). Both tip the scale.
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning)
- For physical heaviness:
- For importance/significance:
- Die Bedeutung (meaning, significance)
- Die Wichtigkeit (importance)
- Der Stellenwert (standing, value)
- Die Relevanz (relevance)
- Der Nachdruck (emphasis)
Antonyms (opposite meaning)
- For physical heaviness:
- Die Leichtigkeit (lightness)
- Die Schwerelosigkeit (weightlessness)
- For importance/significance:
- Die Bedeutungslosigkeit (insignificance)
- Die Belanglosigkeit (triviality)
- Die Irrelevanz (irrelevance)
- Die Geringfügigkeit (minorness)
Similar words:
- Wiegen: The verb meaning 'to weigh'.
- Gewichtig: The adjective meaning 'heavy' or 'significant'.
😂 A Little Joke
German: Fragt der Trainer im Fitnessstudio: "Na, wie läuft's mit dem Gewicht?" Antwortet der Kunde: "Super! Ich kann es schon fast sehen!"
English: The gym trainer asks: "So, how's it going with the weight?" The customer replies: "Great! I can almost see it!"
📜 Poem about Weight
German:
Das Gewicht, mal Last, mal Zahl,
Auf der Waage, digital, ganz kahl.
Mal Kilo Blei, mal Feder leicht,
Mal Wort, das tief ins Herz uns reicht.
Es drückt uns nieder, hebt uns an,
Ein Argument, ein starker Mann.
Das Gewicht der Welt, das Gewicht der Zeit,
Mal Bürde schwer, mal Leichtigkeit.
English Translation:
The Weight, sometimes burden, sometimes number,
On the scale, digital and bare slumber.
Sometimes lead kilo, sometimes feather light,
A word, that reaches deep in heart's sight.
It presses down, it lifts us high,
An argument, a strong man nigh.
The weight of the world, the weight of time,
Sometimes heavy burden, sometimes lightness sublime.
❓ Riddle
German:
Ich habe keine Stimme, doch meine Worte zählen.
Ich habe keine Muskeln, doch kann dich auf die Waage quälen.
Mal bin ich nur eine Zahl, mal drück' ich schwer aufs Herz.
Was bin ich, sag es schnell, ist das nicht ein Scherz?
English Translation:
I have no voice, yet my words carry might.
I have no muscles, yet can cause a scale-fright.
Sometimes just a number, sometimes heavy on the heart's stage.
What am I, tell me quick, turn this riddle's page?
Solution: Das Gewicht (The weight)
➕ Other Information
Word Composition:
The word "Gewicht" is derived from the verb "wiegen" (to weigh). The prefix "Ge-" is often used in German to form collective nouns or abstract concepts.
Idioms (Redewendungen):
- Jemandem ins Gewicht fallen: To be important or relevant to someone. ("Seine Meinung fällt bei der Entscheidung ins Gewicht." - His opinion carries weight in the decision.)
- Etwas hat Gewicht: Something is important or influential. ("Die neuen Beweise haben Gewicht." - The new evidence has weight.)
- Sein Gewicht in die Waagschale werfen: To throw one's weight around, use one's influence.
Summary: is it der, die or das Gewicht?
The correct article for the word "Gewicht" is always das: das Gewicht.