das / der  Kilo

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈkiːlo/

⚖️ What does Kilo mean? The Dual Nature

The word "Kilo" is used in German with two different articles, indicating different meanings or usage contexts:

• das Kilo (neuter): This is the official and correct short form for Kilogramm (kilogram), the unit of mass (weight). It refers to exactly 1000 grams. Example: Ich kaufe ein Kilo Äpfel. (I'm buying a kilo of apples.)
• der Kilo (masculine): This is a colloquial and regional variation, often used synonymously with "das Kilo" (meaning kilogram). Sometimes, "der Kilo" is also used colloquially for Kilometer (kilometer), especially when talking about speed (e.g., Hundert Kilo fahren for 100 km/h). ⚠️ This form is considered non-standard but is widespread in spoken language. Example (colloquial): Gib mir mal 'nen Kilo Zucker. (Give me a kilo of sugar.) or Der fährt locker 150 Kilo. (He easily drives 150 kilos [meaning km/h].)

🚨 Remember: In formal contexts (school, written communication, science), you should always use das Kilo for kilograms.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📐 Grammar in Detail: Das and Der Kilo

The declension differs depending on the article used.

Declension: das Kilo (neuter)

Note: In the plural, the form "Kilo" is often used unchanged, especially after numbers (e.g., fünf Kilo - five kilos). However, the form "Kilos" is also common, particularly when no number is present.

Declension: der Kilo (masculine, colloquial)

📝 Example Sentences

1. (das Kilo) Das Kilo Tomaten kostet heute nur zwei Euro. (The kilo of tomatoes only costs two euros today.)
2. (das Kilo) Sie nahm während der Schwangerschaft zehn Kilo zu. (She gained ten kilos during her pregnancy.)
3. (der Kilo, coll.) Kannst du mir mal den Kilo Mehl geben? (Can you give me the kilo of flour? [colloquial])
4. (der Kilo, coll. for km/h) Mit 180 Kilo über die Autobahn zu rasen, ist gefährlich. (Speeding down the highway at 180 kilos [km/h] is dangerous. [colloquial])

🛒 When to say what? Using Kilo

The choice between "das Kilo" and "der Kilo" heavily depends on the context and the level of formality:

• Das Kilo:
  • Standard German, formal, written.
  • Always correct when referring to the unit of mass, kilogram.
  • The only accepted form in scientific, official, or educational contexts.
  • Examples: Recipe quantities, scientific publications, news reports, price tags ("Äpfel: 2,99 € / das Kilo").
• Der Kilo:
  • Colloquial, spoken, regionally common.
  • Often heard when shopping or in informal situations.
  • Can be perceived as slangy or uneducated, especially in more formal circles.
  • The meaning "kilometer" (specifically km/h) is purely colloquial and should be avoided if clarity is important.
  • Example: At the market: "Ich hätte gern 'nen Kilo von den Erdbeeren da." (I'd like a kilo of those strawberries there. [colloquial])

Important Distinction: "Kilo" is the short form of "Kilogramm". The prefix "Kilo-" means "thousand" and is used in other units too (Kilometer, Kilowatt, Kilobyte). However, the short form "Kilo" almost always refers to Kilogramm.

💡 Memory Aids for Kilo

For the article: Think of das Gewicht (the weight) which is neuter (sächlich) - this is the official unit, so it's das Kilo. "Der Kilo" is just the colloquial guy (masculine, der Kerl) who says it informally.

For the meaning: Imagine a King who loves weighing his gold - a whole Kilo! (Focus on weight = Kilogramm)

🔄 Synonyms, Antonyms & Co.

Similar, but different terms

• Kilometer (km): Unit of length/distance.
• Kilowatt (kW): Unit of power.
• Kilobyte (kB): Unit of data storage.

🚨 Don't confuse "das Kilo" (weight) with the colloquial use of "der Kilo" for kilometers/hour.

😂 A Kilo of Humor

Fragt der Lehrer: Was ist schwerer, ein Kilo Federn oder ein Kilo Blei?
Antwortet Fritzchen: Ich glaube, das Schleppen von beidem!

Teacher asks: What's heavier, a kilo of feathers or a kilo of lead?
Little Fritz replies: I think carrying both!

📜 Kilo Poem

Ob Äpfel, Mehl, ob Stein,
das Kilo, das muss sein.
Auf der Waage liegt es schwer,
tausend Gramm, nicht mehr und nicht weniger.
Manchmal sagt man auch der Kilo flott,
doch standardmäßig ist das Gebot.

Whether apples, flour, or stone so grey,
das Kilo must be there, come what may.
On the scale, its heavy load,
a thousand grams, the standard code.
Sometimes quickly der Kilo is said,
But standard German uses das instead.

❓ Kilo Riddle

Ich messe, was die Dinge wiegen,
ob sie leicht sind oder schwer darniederliegen.
Tausend Gramm bring ich genau,
manchmal bin ich 'der', meistens sächlich schlau.

Was bin ich? (Lösung: das Kilo / der Kilo)

I measure how much things weigh,
whether they are light or heavy, day by day.
A thousand grams is my precise amount,
sometimes I'm 'der', but mostly neuter, no doubt.

What am I? (Solution: das Kilo / der Kilo)

🤓 More about Kilo

• Etymology: The word "Kilo" comes from the Greek word chílioi (χίλιοι), meaning "thousand". It is thus a prefix indicating one thousand times a unit.
• SI Unit: The Kilogramm (kg) is the base unit of mass in the International System of Units (SI). Interestingly, it's the only base unit that includes a prefix ("Kilo-") in its name. Until 2019, it was defined by the International Prototype Kilogram, a platinum-iridium cylinder in Paris. Today, the definition is based on fundamental physical constants (Planck constant).
• Distribution of "der Kilo": The use of "der Kilo" is more common in Southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland than in Northern Germany, but it can be encountered in colloquial speech there as well.