der
Kies
🧱 What does "der Kies" mean?
The German word der Kies primarily has two meanings:
-
Small, round stones (Gravel/Pebbles) 🪨: This is the main meaning. It refers to sediment or rock consisting of small, often rounded stones that are larger than Sand (sand) but smaller than Geröll (rubble/scree). You often find Kies near rivers, lakes, or in Kiesgruben (gravel pits), and it's used in construction or gardening.
Example: Die Einfahrt wurde mit frischem Kies aufgeschüttet. (The driveway was covered with fresh gravel.)
-
Money (colloquial) 💰: In everyday language, "Kies" is often used as a slang term for money, similar to English terms like "dough" or "bucks".
Example: Hast du genug Kies dabei für die Kinokarten? (Do you have enough cash/dough with you for the cinema tickets?)
⚠️ Important: Even though there are two meanings, the article is always der.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Minerals → mostly masculine.
Caution: Compare with the category "Materials and metals"! Das Mineral, das Material, das Metall.
🧐 Grammar of "der Kies" in Detail
Der Kies is a masculine noun. It is mostly used in the singular, especially when referring to stones, as it's considered a collective noun (uncountable).
Declension (Singular)
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Kies |
| Genitive | des | Kieses |
| Dative | dem | Kies / Kiese |
| Accusative | den | Kies |
💡 Note: The plural form ("die Kiese") is very rare and almost never used for the 'stone' meaning. It might occasionally appear in a geological context to refer to different types of gravel or humorously for the 'money' meaning. Usually, one talks about "viel Kies" (a lot of gravel/money) or "verschiedene Kiessorten" (different types of gravel).
Example Sentences
- Der LKW lud eine große Menge Kies ab. (The truck unloaded a large amount of gravel.)
- Für das neue Projekt brauchen wir ordentlich Kies. (We need a decent amount of cash/dough for the new project.)
- Der Weg durch den Garten besteht aus feinem Kies. (The path through the garden is made of fine gravel.)
- Ohne Moos nix los, ohne Kies keine Party. (A German saying: No money, no fun; without cash, no party.)
🗣️ How to use "Kies"?
The usage of der Kies strongly depends on its meaning:
-
As stones/gravel: Here, "Kies" is used factually. People talk about Kieswege (gravel paths), Kiesgruben (gravel pits), Beton mit Kies (concrete with gravel), Kies für den Garten (gravel for the garden). It's a specific term for grain size between Sand (sand) and Schotter/Geröll (coarser gravel/rubble).
- Comparison: Schotter is usually coarser and more angular than Kies. Sand is finer.
- As money: This meaning is purely colloquial and informal. You wouldn't use it in a formal email or official document. It sounds casual and sometimes a bit flippant.
You often say "viel Kies" (much gravel/money) or "wenig Kies" (little gravel/money) for both meanings.
🧠 Mnemonics for "der Kies"
Mnemonic for the Article (der):
Imagine der strong construction worker shoveling der heavy Kies. Also, 'Kies' sounds a bit like 'keys' - imagine you need der specific key (masculine 'der Schlüssel') to access the pile of Kies. Or think: Der Kieselstein (pebble) is small, der Kies is a lot of them.
Mnemonic for the Meanings (Stones & Money):
You need a lot of Kies (money) to cover your yard with Kies (gravel). Or: Think of 'Kies' sounding like 'kiss'. You might get a kiss 💋 for giving someone money (Kies), or maybe you find pretty stones (Kies) on a beach where you might kiss someone! 💰➡️🪨
↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Words)
Similar Sounding Words (Potential Confusion)
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt der eine Bauarbeiter den anderen: "Hast du den Kies gesehen?"
Sagt der andere: "Welchen? Den zum Bauen oder den zum Ausgeben?"
Translation:
One construction worker asks the other: "Have you seen the Kies?"
The other replies: "Which one? The one for building or the one for spending?"
✍️ Poem about Kies
Der Kies, so grau, mal fein, mal grob,
liegt auf dem Weg, im Gartenlob.
Ein jeder Stein, rund und klein,
lädt barfuß nicht zum Gehen ein.
Doch auch als Geld, so hört man's oft,
ist auf den Kies schnell mal gehofft.
Ob Steine oder Moneten,
man kann ihn gut gebrauchen, den ... Kies eben!
Translation:
The Kies, so gray, sometimes fine, sometimes coarse,
lies on the path, praised in the garden.
Each stone, round and small,
doesn't invite barefoot walking.
But also as money, as one often hears,
hope is quickly placed on the Kies.
Whether stones or cash,
it's quite useful, the... well, the Kies!
❓ Riddle
Ich liege auf Wegen und am Strand,
bin härter als der feine Sand.
Im Bau wird oft nach mir gefragt,
und wer Geld hat, der hat's – wie gesagt?
Wer bin ich?
Translation:
I lie on paths and on the beach,
I'm harder than the finest sand.
In construction, I'm often in demand,
And he who has money, has me – as they say, unplanned?
What am I?
Solution: Der Kies (gravel / money)
ℹ️ Additional Information
Compound Words (Wortzusammensetzungen)
"Kies" is often part of compound nouns in German:
- Die Kiesgrube: Gravel pit (place where gravel is extracted).
- Der Kiesweg: Gravel path.
- Der Kieslaster: Gravel truck.
- Das Kiesbett: Gravel bed (e.g., for railway tracks or as a run-off area in motorsport).
Etymology (Word Origin)
The word "Kies" comes from the Old High German word "kis", which also meant sand or grit. The colloquial meaning "money" developed much later, probably in 19th century Berlin, possibly referencing the Yiddish word "kis" for purse or bag (i.e., what you keep money in).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Kies?
The word 'Kies' is masculine: der Kies. It primarily means gravel or pebbles, but is also used colloquially to mean money.