das  Kilogramm

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈkiːloɡʁam/

📖 What does "das Kilogramm" mean?

Das Kilogramm (abbreviation: kg) is the base unit of mass in the International System of Units (SI). It's a fundamental unit of measurement used worldwide in science, technology, and trade.

It describes a specific amount of matter. Originally, it was defined by the mass of a prototype (Urkilogramm), but since 2019, its definition is based on natural constants (specifically the Planck constant).

In everyday life (im Alltag), it's often used to state the weight of objects, food, or people (although technically, weight is a force, mass is usually meant in common language).

Article rules for der, die, and das

📊 Grammar of "das Kilogramm"

The word "Kilogramm" is a neuter noun. The article is das.

📝 Example Sentences

• Ein Kilogramm Zucker kostet derzeit etwa 1,50 Euro. (One kilogram of sugar currently costs about 1.50 Euros.)
• Das Paket wiegt genau zehn Kilogramm. (The package weighs exactly ten kilograms.)
• Sie hat fünf Kilogramm abgenommen. (She lost five kilograms.)
• Der Wert der Planck-Konstante wird zur Definition des Kilogramms herangezogen. (The value of the Planck constant is used for the definition of the kilogram.)
• Wie viele Kilogramme Kartoffeln brauchen wir für das Rezept? (How many kilograms of potatoes do we need for the recipe?)

💡 How to use "Kilogramm"?

• Everyday Life & Trade: When buying groceries (Obst, Gemüse, Fleisch - fruit, vegetables, meat), weighing packages or people. Example: "Ich hätte gerne zwei Kilogramm Äpfel." (I would like two kilograms of apples.)
• Science & Technology: As the fundamental unit for mass in physics calculations, chemical experiments, and technical specifications. Example: "Die Dichte von Wasser beträgt etwa 1000 Kilogramm pro Kubikmeter." (The density of water is about 1000 kilograms per cubic meter.)
• Abbreviation: The abbreviation "kg" is used very frequently, both in writing and speaking. Example: "Das Maximalgewicht beträgt 20 kg." (The maximum weight is 20 kg.)
• Colloquial Use: Sometimes "Kilo" is used as a short form for "Kilogramm". Example: "Ein Kilo Mehl, bitte." (One kilo of flour, please.)
• Difference to Pfund: In German-speaking areas, one Pfund (pound) often equals 500 grams, i.e., half a kilogram. It's important not to confuse this. 🚨 It's not synonymous with Kilogramm!

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

• Article "das": Many scientific, neutral terms in German are neuter ('sächlich'). Think of other 'das' words in science: das Atom, das Molekül, das System, das Kilogramm. Imagine a scale as a neutral measuring device (Gerät - also 'das'). Das Gerät misst das Kilogramm.
• Meaning "Kilogram": Think of the prefix "Kilo-" meaning 1000 (from Greek). So, a Kilogramm is simply 1000 Gramm. Picture 1000 tiny gram weights making up one big Kilogramm.

↔️ Synonyms & Related Terms

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Richter den Angeklagten: "Warum haben Sie die Waage aus dem Supermarkt gestohlen?"
Antwortet der Angeklagte: "Herr Richter, ich wollte nur wissen, wie viel Zeit ich mitnehme!"

Translation:

The judge asks the defendant: "Why did you steal the scale from the supermarket?"
The defendant replies: "Your Honor, I just wanted to know how much time I was taking!"

(Okay, the joke plays more on 'Waage' (scale/weigh) and 'Zeit' (time), but kilograms are the result of weighing!)

✍️ Poem about the Kilogram

Das Kilogramm, schwer und exakt,
im SI-System ein fester Pakt.
Tausend Gramm, auf der Waage klar,
misst die Masse, Jahr für Jahr.
Ob Mehl, ob Stein, ob Mensch, ob Tier,
das Kilo zählt – hier und jetzt, hier!

Translation:

The Kilogram, heavy and exact,
In the SI system, a firm pact.
A thousand grams, clear on the scale,
Measures the mass, without fail.
Be it flour, stone, human, or beast,
The kilo counts – here and now, at least!

❓ Riddle

Ich bin ein Maß, doch hab kein Band,
bin schwer bekannt in jedem Land.
Tausend kleine Brüder hab ich schier,
man nennt sie Gramm, das sag ich dir.
Mit 'das' als Artikel steh ich da.

Was bin ich? Na klar:

Das ...?

Translation:

I am a measure, but have no tape,
Well-known by weight in every state.
A thousand little brothers I oversee,
They call them grams, you see.
With 'das' as my article, I stand tall.

What am I? Clear to all:

Das ...?

Solution: Kilogramm (Kilogram)

🧐 More Tidbits

• Word Origin: The word "Kilogramm" comes from the Greek word χίλιοι (chílioi) meaning "thousand" and γράμμα (grámma), originally "letter", later also a small unit of weight.
• SI Base Unit: The Kilogramm is one of the seven base units of the International System of Units (SI). The others are Meter (length), Sekunde (time), Ampere (electric current), Kelvin (temperature), Mol (amount of substance), and Candela (luminous intensity).
• Redefinition 2019: Until May 2019, the kilogram was defined by a physical cylinder made of platinum-iridium (the Urkilogramm in Paris). Since then, the definition is based on the exactly fixed Planck constant, a fundamental constant of nature. This makes the definition more stable and universally reproducible.