01
die Dichte
density
A physical quantity that describes the ratio of a substance's mass to its volume.
example
Gold hat eine viel höhere Dichte als Aluminium.
Gold has a much higher density than aluminum.
die Dichte
density
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
The noun 'die Dichte' (density) is derived directly from the adjective 'dicht' (dense, compact, impermeable). If you understand 'dicht' (dense), you can easily infer the meaning of 'Dichte' (density) as a measure of concentration.
EXAMPLE
Der Nebel war heute Morgen sehr dicht.
The fog was very dense this morning.
Use with adjectives
'Dichte' (density) is almost always combined with the adjectives 'hoch' (high), 'gering' (low), 'groß' (great), or 'klein' (small) to describe the degree of concentration.
EXAMPLE
Wasser hat bei 4°C seine größte Dichte.
Water has its greatest density at 4°C.
Typical compounds
In its figurative meaning, 'Dichte' (density) is often used as the second part of compound words. Common examples are 'Bevölkerungsdichte' (population density), 'Verkehrsdichte' (traffic density), or 'Informationsdichte' (information density).
EXAMPLE
Die Verkehrsdichte in der Innenstadt ist während der Stoßzeiten enorm.
Traffic density in the city center is enormous during rush hour.
Compare with
Dichte vs Konzentration
concentration
'die Konzentration' and 'die Dichte' can both describe how much of something is present in a particular space or volume. 'Konzentration' is often used when talking about the amount of a particular substance in a solution or mixture, for example salt in water. It can also mean a strong accumulation in one place. 'Dichte' more often describes how closely packed something is, or in physics the ratio of mass to volume. Learners may confuse the words because both have to do with 'a lot in a small space'. For substances in a mixture, 'Konzentration' is often more precise; for mass, traffic, population, or forest, 'Dichte' is often a better fit.
Dichte
In der Innenstadt ist die Dichte des Verkehrs am Morgen besonders hoch.
In the city center, traffic density is especially high in the morning.
Konzentration
Im Labor misst Mehmet die Konzentration von Salz in der Lösung.
In the lab, Mehmet measures the concentration of salt in the solution.
In real life
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