der
Alkoholgehalt
🧪 What exactly is der Alkoholgehalt?
Der Alkoholgehalt refers to the proportion of pure alcohol (ethanol) in a liquid, usually a beverage. It's typically indicated in percent by volume (% vol).
Examples:
- Beer often has an Alkoholgehalt between 4% vol and 6% vol.
- Wine is typically between 10% vol and 15% vol.
- Spirits like vodka or whiskey have a high Alkoholgehalt, often around 40% vol or more.
There's only this one meaning, and the article is always der.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Alcohol → almost always masculine.
🧐 Grammar: Declining Alkoholgehalt
The word "Alkoholgehalt" is a masculine noun. Its article is der.
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Alkoholgehalt |
| Genitive | des | Alkoholgehalt(e)s |
| Dative | dem | Alkoholgehalt(e) |
| Accusative | den | Alkoholgehalt |
Plural
The plural form (die Alkoholgehalte) is used less frequently, often when referring to the alcohol contents of different products.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Alkoholgehalte |
| Genitive | der | Alkoholgehalte |
| Dative | den | Alkoholgehalten |
| Accusative | die | Alkoholgehalte |
Example Sentences
- Der Alkoholgehalt dieses Weines ist sehr hoch.
(The alcohol content of this wine is very high.) - Der Hersteller muss den Alkoholgehalt auf der Flasche angeben.
(The manufacturer must state the alcohol content on the bottle.) - Wir verglichen die Alkoholgehalte verschiedener Biersorten.
(We compared the alcohol contents of different types of beer.) - Wegen des niedrigen Alkoholgehalts ist dieses Getränk sehr beliebt.
(Because of the low alcohol content, this drink is very popular.)
💡 How Alkoholgehalt is Used
The term "Alkoholgehalt" is mainly used in connection with beverages. It's important information for consumers and legally required on labels.
- Everyday Life: When buying beer, wine, or spirits, people look at the Alkoholgehalt.
- Legally: Labels on alcoholic beverages must state the Alkoholgehalt.
- Science/Technology: The term is also used in chemical analyses or in the production of disinfectants.
Germans often just say "Prozent" (percent) or "Volumenprozent" (percent by volume) if the context is clear (e.g., "Dieses Bier hat 5 Prozent." - "This beer has 5 percent.").
⚠️ There's little risk of confusion as the word is very specific. Sometimes "Alkoholkonzentration" (alcohol concentration) is used synonymously.
🧠 Mnemonics to Remember
Article Mnemonic: Think of alcohol often being associated with strong, 'manly' drinks (even if that's a stereotype!). Manly things in German are often 'der'. So, it's der Alkoholgehalt.
Meaning Mnemonic: "Alkohol-gehalt" sounds a bit like "alcohol you halt". The Alkoholgehalt tells you how much alcohol might make you 'halt' or stop drinking! Alternatively, 'Gehalt' also means 'salary' or 'content' - think of it as the 'alcohol content' or 'alcohol salary' inside the bottle.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Alkoholkonzentration: (Alcohol concentration) Very similar, often interchangeable.
- Ethanolgehalt: (Ethanol content) More precise, chemical term.
- Stärke (colloquial): (Strength) Sometimes used colloquially for alcohol content ("Dieser Schnaps hat Stärke." - "This schnapps has strength.").
- Prozent / Volumenprozent: (Percent / Percent by volume) Abbreviated unit specification, often used synonymously when the meaning is clear.
Antonyms (Opposites)
- Alkoholfreiheit: (Alcohol freedom / being alcohol-free) The state of containing no alcohol.
- Nüchternheit: (Sobriety) Refers to the state of a person, not the drink itself.
- (Terms like "Wassergehalt" (water content) or "Saftgehalt" (juice content) aren't direct antonyms but describe the proportion of other substances.)
😄 A Little Joke
German: Fragt der Richter den Angeklagten: "Stimmt es, dass Sie einen Alkoholgehalt von 2,5 Promille hatten?" Antwortet der Angeklagte: "Nein, Herr Richter, das war nur das Bier!"
English Translation: The judge asks the defendant: "Is it true that you had an alcohol level of 2.5 per mille (0.25% BAC)?" The defendant replies: "No, your Honor, that was just the beer!"
📜 Poem about Content
German:
Im Wein, im Bier, im klaren Schnaps,
steht eine Zahl, ganz ohne Klaps.
Der Alkoholgehalt, mal hoch, mal tief,
zeigt an, wie stark der Tropfen schlief.
In Prozent wird er genannt,
auf jeder Flasche wohlbekannt.
English Translation:
In wine, in beer, in schnapps so clear,
stands a number, without a jeer.
The alcohol content, low or high,
shows how strong the slumbering drop lies nigh.
In percent, its name is known,
familiar on each bottle shown.
❓ Riddle Time
German:
Ich messe die Stärke im Getränk,
bin wichtig für den Ausschank.
Mal bin ich niedrig, mal sehr hoch,
man findet mich auf Flaschen doch.
Was bin ich?
English Translation:
I measure the strength in the drink,
I'm important when pouring, I think.
Sometimes I am low, sometimes quite tall,
you find me on bottles, standing for all.
What am I?
Solution: Der Alkoholgehalt (The alcohol content)
🧩 Other Information
Word Composition:
The word "Alkoholgehalt" is a compound noun, formed from:
- Alkohol: (from Arabic al-kuhl, originally meaning fine powder, later distilled substances)
- Gehalt: (meaning here: content, amount of a substance in a mixture)
Unit of Measurement: The Alkoholgehalt is usually specified in Volumenprozent (% vol), meaning percent by volume. This indicates how many milliliters of pure ethanol are contained in 100 milliliters of the beverage. Less commonly, you might see percent by mass (% mas).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Alkoholgehalt?
The noun "Alkoholgehalt" is masculine, so the correct article is always der. It refers to the amount of alcohol in a liquid, typically measured in percent by volume (% vol).