01
die Baumwolle
cotton
The fabric made from the fibers of the cotton plant and used to make clothing or textiles.
example
Dieses T-Shirt ist aus 100 % Baumwolle.
This T-shirt is made of 100% cotton.
die Baumwolle
cotton
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word composition
The word is a compound of 'der Baum' (tree) and 'die Wolle' (wool). The plant's white, soft fibers look like wool growing on a tree or shrub — hence the name 'Baumwolle' (cotton).
EXAMPLE
Kinder finden den Namen „Baumwolle“ oft sehr logisch, wenn sie die Pflanze zum ersten Mal sehen.
Children often find the name 'Baumwolle' (cotton) very logical when they see the plant for the first time.
Context clue
You can tell whether the plant or the fabric is meant from the verb. Verbs like 'anbauen' (to cultivate/grow) or 'ernten' (to harvest) refer to the plant. If it is about clothing or products, the preposition 'aus' (made of/from) is often used.
EXAMPLE
In vielen warmen Ländern wird Baumwolle angebaut.
Cotton is grown in many warm countries.
Use with "aus"
When you describe the material of a piece of clothing or product, use the preposition 'aus' (made of/from). In this context, 'Baumwolle' (cotton) is an uncountable noun.
EXAMPLE
Meine Bettwäsche ist aus reiner Baumwolle.
My bed linen is made of pure cotton.
Compare with
Baumwolle vs Wolle
wool
'Wolle' and 'Baumwolle' are both used for clothing and textiles, but they come from different sources. 'Wolle' usually comes from animals, especially sheep, and can also mean the yarn used for knitting. 'Baumwolle' comes from a plant and is often used for T-shirts, bed linen, or towels. The words are easy to confuse because both materials can be soft and appear in clothing. For a sweater made from sheep's hair, you say 'Wolle'; for a T-shirt made from plant fibers, you say 'Baumwolle'.
Baumwolle
Mila kauft Bettwäsche aus Baumwolle, damit sie im Sommer nicht so schwitzt.
Mila buys cotton bed linen so she does not sweat so much in summer.
Wolle
Meine Mutter strickt am Montag einen warmen Pullover aus Wolle.
On Monday, my mother is knitting a warm sweater out of wool.
In real life
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