content / substance
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content
The amount or proportion of a particular substance contained in another substance or mixture. This word should not be confused with 'das Gehalt' (salary).
Der Saft hat einen Fruchtgehalt von 100 Prozent.
The juice has a fruit content of 100 percent.
substance
The ideal, intellectual, or content-related value of something, for example a work of art, a text, or a statement.
Die Rede des Politikers hatte leider nur wenig politischen Gehalt.
Unfortunately, the politician's speech had very little political substance.
Careful: the article completely changes the meaning! 'Der Gehalt' (masculine) refers to the content or proportion of something. 'Das Gehalt' (neuter) refers to the money you get for your work.
Der Fettgehalt dieses Joghurts ist sehr niedrig.
The fat content of this yogurt is very low.
In the meaning 'proportion', 'Gehalt' (content) is very often used as the second part of compound nouns. Typical examples are 'der Fettgehalt' (fat content), 'der Alkoholgehalt' (alcohol content), or 'der Salzgehalt' (salt content).
Achten Sie beim Kauf auf den Zuckergehalt der Lebensmittel.
When shopping, pay attention to the sugar content of foods.
To specify which substance is contained in something, German uses the preposition 'an' followed by the dative. People speak of the 'Gehalt an Vitaminen' (vitamin content) or 'Gehalt an Eisen' (iron content).
Spinat hat einen hohen Gehalt an Eisen.
Spinach has a high iron content.
The meaning 'ideal value' is used in discussions about art, literature, or communication. Typical adjectives here are 'geistig' (intellectual), 'emotional' (emotional), or 'informativ' (informative).
Dem Film fehlt es an emotionalem Gehalt.
The film lacks emotional substance.
content
Inhalt refers to the topics, statements, or meaning of a text or work of art. Gehalt focuses more strongly on its ideal or intellectual value. When describing what is being discussed, choose Inhalt; when evaluating the intellectual meaning, choose Gehalt.
Der geistige Gehalt des Essays zeigt sich in seinen Gedanken über Verantwortung.
The essay's intellectual substance is evident in its thoughts on responsibility.
Der Inhalt des Essays ist die Verantwortung des Menschen für die Natur.
The essay is about human responsibility for nature.
