limestone
Loading your saved state.
limestone
A sedimentary rock that consists mainly of calcium carbonate. It is often used as a building material or to produce cement.
Viele Burgen entlang des Rheins wurden auf Felsen aus Kalkstein errichtet.
Many castles along the Rhine were built on limestone cliffs.
'Kalkstein' (limestone) is a compound noun made up of 'Kalk' (lime) and 'Stein' (stone). So the meaning is quite literal: it is a type of rock that is rich in lime.
Die Schwäbische Alb ist bekannt für ihre Höhlen im Kalkstein.
The Swabian Jura is known for its caves in the limestone.
To express that something is made of this material, you use the preposition 'aus' (from/of). This combination is very common.
Die Figur wurde aus einem einzigen Block Kalkstein gehauen.
The figure was carved from a single block of limestone.
'Kalkstein' (limestone) is often used as the first part of compound words to describe another noun. It then functions like an adjective.
Wir wanderten durch eine beeindruckende Kalksteinschlucht.
We hiked through an impressive limestone gorge.
marble
'Marmor' and 'Kalkstein' are both types of rock and can come up in construction or architecture. They are also factually connected, because marble can form from altered limestone. Even so, the words are not used in the same way. 'Marmor' usually refers to a hard, often polished stone with veining that looks especially beautiful and elegant. 'Kalkstein' sounds more like a building material or natural rock and is also used to make cement. Learners may confuse the words because both can be light-colored stones. In everyday language, you say 'Marmor' when talking about a visible, beautiful surface, and 'Kalkstein' when talking about the material as a rock or building material.
Herr Schwarz erklärt beim Termin, dass die Fassade aus Kalkstein gebaut wird.
At the appointment, Mr. Schwarz explains that the facade will be built from limestone.
Beim Einkaufen bewundert Lisa eine Tischplatte aus dunklem Marmor.
While shopping, Lisa admires a tabletop made of dark marble.