der  Hektar

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈhɛktaːɐ̯/

📐 What Exactly is a Hektar?

Der Hektar (abbreviation: ha) is a unit of measurement for area. It corresponds to an area of 10,000 square meters (m²) or a square with sides of 100 meters.

Although the word ends in "-ar", it is masculine: der Hektar. This is because it derives from der Ar (1 Ar = 100 m²), where "Hekto-" is the Greek prefix for "hundred" (1 Hektar = 100 Ar).

🚨 Attention: Do not confuse it with die Hektik (hustle and bustle, stress)!

🔢 Grammar in Detail: Der Hektar

The word "Hektar" is a masculine noun. Here are the declension tables:

Note: The plural is usually the unchanged form "Hektar", especially after numbers (e.g., fünf Hektar Land - five hectares of land). The form "Hektare(n)" is less common and considered more formal or archaic.

Example Sentences

1. Der Bauer bewirtschaftet zehn Hektar Wald. (The farmer cultivates ten hectares of forest.)
2. Die Größe des Parks beträgt etwa einen halben Hektar. (The size of the park is about half a hectare.)
3. Wie viele Hektar misst dieses Grundstück? (How many hectares does this property measure?)
4. Der Preis pro Hektar Bauland ist stark gestiegen. (The price per hectare of building land has risen sharply.)

🗺️ When is Hektar Used?

Der Hektar is mainly used to indicate area sizes, especially in the following fields:

• Agriculture and Forestry: Size of fields, forests, farms. (e.g., 50 Hektar Ackerland - 50 hectares of arable land)
• Real Estate and Property: Size of large plots of land, parks, building land. (e.g., ein Grundstück von 2 Hektar - a plot of 2 hectares)
• Geography and Planning: Indicating areas in landscape planning or statistical surveys. (e.g., die durchschnittliche Betriebsgröße beträgt 30 Hektar - the average farm size is 30 hectares)

In everyday life, square meters (Quadratmeter - m²) or ares (Ar - a) are more commonly used for smaller areas. A Hektar is a relatively large area, roughly the size of one and a half football (soccer) fields.

💡 Mnemonics to Remember

• Article Mnemonic: Think of der tractor, a masculine-sounding word, driving over den Hektar. Or remember it comes from der Ar.
• Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine a square area where you heckle a tar pit that is 100x100 meters. Or: Hekto (hundred) times Ar = Hektar (100 Ar).

🔄 Synonyms and Related Terms

There are no direct antonyms for units of measurement, but one can consider smaller or larger units as contrasts.

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt der Städter den Bauern: "Wie groß ist eigentlich so ein Hektar?"
Antwortet der Bauer: "Nicht riesig, aber groß genug, um sich darin ordentlich zu verlaufen, wenn man nur auf sein Handy schaut!"

Translation:
The city dweller asks the farmer: "How big is a hectare, anyway?"
The farmer replies: "Not huge, but big enough to get properly lost in if you're only looking at your phone!"

📜 A Little Poem

Ein Feld, so weit das Auge reicht,
Der Hektar misst es, sanft und leicht.
Zehntausend Meter im Quadrat,
Für Bauer, Wald und Stadt.

Translation:
A field, as far as the eye can see,
The hectare measures it, gently and easily.
Ten thousand meters in a square,
For farmer, forest, and city's care.

❓ Little Riddle

Ich messe Land, bin nicht ganz klein,
ein Quadrat von hundert mal hundert muss es sein.
In der Landwirtschaft bin ich bekannt,
wie werd' ich mit 'ha' abgekürzt genannt?

Translation:
I measure land, I'm not quite small,
A square of hundred by hundred must be all.
In agriculture, I am known,
How am I abbreviated as 'ha' shown?

Lösung/Solution: Der Hektar

🌐 More Interesting Facts

Word Origin (Etymology):

The word "Hektar" is composed of:

• Hekto-: From the Greek word ἑκατόν (hekatón), meaning "hundred".
• Ar: An older unit of area (100 m²), derived from the Latin word area (area, open space).

So, a Hektar is literally "hundred are". This unit is part of the metric system, and although it is not an SI unit, it is widely used internationally.