das Kalium
potassium
A chemical element with the symbol K. It is an essential mineral for the human body and plays an important role for nerves and muscles.
EXAMPLE
Bananen enthalten viel Kalium.
Bananas contain a lot of potassium.
das Kalium
potassium
das Kalium
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Meanings
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Kalium, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| genitive | des Kaliums |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Kalium | – |
| accusative | das Kalium | – |
| dative | dem Kalium | – |
| genitive | des Kaliums | – |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Recognizing word structure
The ending '-ium' is typical of the names of many chemical elements in German. When you see this ending, it is often a substance, as in 'Kalzium' (calcium), 'Natrium' (sodium), or 'Magnesium' (magnesium).
EXAMPLE
Für gesunde Knochen ist nicht nur Kalzium, sondern auch Magnesium wichtig.
For healthy bones, not only calcium but also magnesium is important.
Use without an article
As the name of a substance, 'Kalium' (potassium) is often used without an article, especially when referring to an unspecified amount. So you say 'Bananen enthalten Kalium' (bananas contain potassium), not '... das Kalium'.
EXAMPLE
Spinat enthält viel Eisen und Kalium.
Spinach contains a lot of iron and potassium.
Context: science
The word 'Kalium' (potassium) is mainly used in scientific, medical, or nutrition-related contexts. In everyday life, people tend to talk about the foods that contain it.
EXAMPLE
Der Arzt überprüfte den Kaliumspiegel im Blut des Patienten.
The doctor checked the potassium level in the patient's blood.
Typical collocations
Common word combinations are 'reich an Kalium sein' (to be rich in potassium) or 'Kalium enthalten' (to contain potassium). In medicine, people often talk about 'Kaliummangel' (potassium deficiency) or the body's 'Kaliumhaushalt' (potassium balance).
EXAMPLE
Avocados sind bekannt dafür, reich an Kalium zu sein.
Avocados are known for being rich in potassium.
Compare with
Kalium vs Kali
potash
Both words can occur in the context of supplying plants with potassium. „Kali“ refers to potassium salts used as mineral fertilizer, while „Kalium“ names the chemical element and the mineral nutrient. Use „Kali“ for the fertilizer and „Kalium“ for the substance itself.
Kalium
Kalium ist ein wichtiger Mineralstoff für Pflanzen.
Potassium is an important mineral nutrient for plants.
Kali
Der Landwirt streut im Frühjahr Kali auf die Felder.
The farmer spreads potash fertilizer on the fields in spring.
In real life
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