der
Zentimeter
📏 What exactly is a 'Zentimeter'?
Der Zentimeter (abbreviation: cm) is a fundamental unit of length (Maßeinheit für die Länge) in the metric system. It corresponds to one hundredth (1/100) of a meter (eines Meters). So, one meter has 100 centimeters.
It's a very common unit for indicating smaller lengths, such as the size of objects (Größe von Gegenständen), body height (Körpergrößen), or distances on maps (Abstände auf Karten).
Because 'Zentimeter' is derived from the word 'Meter' (which is masculine, der Meter), der Zentimeter is also masculine. There are no other articles for this word.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-er → mostly masculine.
1. Caution: many exceptions. 2. almost all -euer nouns are neutral. 3. There are many -er words, we don't list them all.
📊 Grammar: Declension of 'der Zentimeter'
The noun 'Zentimeter' is masculine (männlich). Here are the declension tables:
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Zentimeter |
| Genitive | des | Zentimeters |
| Dative | dem | Zentimeter |
| Accusative | den | Zentimeter |
Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Zentimeter |
| Genitive | der | Zentimeter |
| Dative | den | Zentimetern |
| Accusative | die | Zentimeter |
Example Sentences (Beispielsätze)
- Das Lineal ist 30 Zentimeter lang. (The ruler is 30 centimeters long.)
- Der Tisch hat eine Höhe von 75 Zentimetern. (The table has a height of 75 centimeters. - Note the Dative Plural with -n)
- Bitte schneide das Band auf genau 50 Zentimeter ab. (Please cut the ribbon to exactly 50 centimeters.)
- Zwischen den beiden Punkten liegen nur wenige Zentimeter. (There are only a few centimeters between the two points.)
- Ein Zentimeter entspricht zehn Millimetern. (One centimeter equals ten millimeters.)
💡 How to use 'Zentimeter'?
Der Zentimeter is used in everyday life and in many professional fields:
- Everyday life (Alltag): Measuring body height (Körpergröße messen), furniture (Möbel), fabrics (Stoffe), craft materials (Bastelmaterialien).
- Crafts & Construction (Handwerk & Bau): Precise measurements for components (Bauteile), cuts (Schnitte), distances (Abstände).
- Science & Technology (Wissenschaft & Technik): Specifying dimensions of small objects or short distances.
- Geography & Cartography (Geografie & Kartografie): Scales on maps (Maßstäbe auf Karten), e.g., 1 Zentimeter equals 1 Kilometer.
The abbreviation cm is internationally common and often used instead of the full word, especially with numerical values (e.g., 15 cm).
⚠️ Important: After numbers, the singular form 'Zentimeter' is often used, even if it refers to more than one (e.g., "5 Zentimeter hoch" - 5 centimeters high), although the dative plural "Zentimetern" would be grammatically correct in prepositional phrases ("mit 5 Zentimetern Abstand" - with a distance of 5 centimeters). In the nominative and accusative plural, it remains 'Zentimeter'.
🧠 Mnemonics for 'der Zentimeter'
Remembering the article: Think of der Meter (the meter). The meter is masculine. The Zentimeter is like its little brother – so it's also der Zentimeter!
Remembering the meaning: The prefix "Zenti-" comes from the Latin "centesimus" (hundredth). A centimeter is the hundredth part of a meter. Think of "100 cents = 1 Dollar/Euro", similarly "100 Zentimeter = 1 Meter".
↔️ Synonyms, Antonyms & Similar Terms
Synonyms (Synonyme)
- cm (Abbreviation)
- Hundertstelmeter (colloquial, rare - hundredth-meter)
Antonyms (Antonyme - conceptually opposite)
- Meter (larger unit)
- Kilometer (much larger unit)
- Millimeter (smaller unit)
Similar, but different terms
- der Zoll: Another, non-metric unit of length (inch, approx. 2.54 cm), often used for screen diagonals or pipe diameters. Don't confuse them!
😄 A little joke
Warum nehmen Mathematiker nie zu viel Platz weg?
Weil sie immer in Zentimetern denken! 😉
Translation: Why do mathematicians never take up too much space?
Because they always think in centimeters! 😉
📜 A short poem
Der Zentimeter klein und fein,
passt hundertmal in'n Meter rein.
Ob Stift, ob Nagel, kurz und knapp,
misst er die Dinge zack, zack, zack.
Mit 'cm' schreibt man's kurz und bündig,
so wird die Länge schnell uns kündig.
Translation:
The centimeter, small and fine,
fits a hundred times in a meter's line.
Be it pen or nail, short and neat,
it measures things quick, oh so sweet.
With 'cm' written, short and sound,
the length is quickly known around.
❓ Riddle Time
Ich bin ein Maß, ganz ohne Frage,
ein Hundertstel vom Meter, Tag für Tage.
Mit mir misst du, was klein erscheint,
mein Name ist...? Na, wer meint?
Translation:
I am a measure, without a doubt,
One hundredth of a meter, day in, day out.
With me you measure what seems small,
My name is...? Guess now, stand tall!
Solution: der Zentimeter (the centimeter)
🧩 Other Interesting Details
Word Composition (Wortzusammensetzung)
The word 'Zentimeter' is a compound of:
- Zenti-: Prefix derived from Latin 'centesimus' (hundredth).
- -meter: Suffix derived from Greek 'metron' (measure).
So it literally means "hundredth-measure" referring to the meter.
SI Unit (SI-Einheit)
Although the Zentimeter is part of the metric system, the base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI) is the Meter (m). The Zentimeter is a derived unit (1 cm = 10⁻² m).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Zentimeter?
The German word for centimeter is der Zentimeter (abbreviation: cm). It's a masculine unit of measurement equal to one hundredth of a meter.