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das Kilogramm
kilogram
A unit of measurement for mass equal to 1000 grams. It is the base unit of mass in the International System of Units (SI).
example
Die Hantel wiegt zehn Kilogramm.
The dumbbell weighs ten kilograms.
das Kilogramm
kilogram
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word structure
The word consists of the prefix 'Kilo-' (kilo-), which means 'tausend' (thousand), and the base word 'Gramm' (gram). So one kilogram is literally one thousand grams.
EXAMPLE
Ein Liter Wasser wiegt ungefähr ein Kilogramm.
One liter of water weighs about one kilogram.
Sentence structure and usage
When a number greater than one comes before 'Kilogramm' (kilogram), the unit is not put into the plural in German. You say 'zwei Kilogramm' (two kilograms), not 'zwei Kilogramme'. This rule applies to most units of measurement.
EXAMPLE
Ich kaufe bitte fünf Kilogramm Kartoffeln.
I'd like to buy five kilograms of potatoes, please.
Typical abbreviation
In writing, especially on price tags, in recipes, or in scientific texts, 'Kilogramm' (kilogram) is almost always abbreviated as 'kg'.
EXAMPLE
Bitte 1 kg Äpfel und 500 g Erdbeeren.
Please, 1 kg of apples and 500 g of strawberries.
Compare with
Kilogramm vs Tonne
bin / ton
'Tonne' and 'Kilogramm' can both indicate weight, so they can be confused. The difference is the size of the unit: one ton is 1,000 kilograms. 'Kilogramm' is often used in everyday life for food, luggage, or body weight. 'Tonne' is more suitable for very heavy things, for example trucks, machines, or large quantities. Also important: 'Tonne' can additionally mean a waste bin, but in this relation it is about the unit of weight.
Kilogramm
Karim hat zu Hause ein Kilogramm Äpfel für den Kuchen gewogen.
At home, Karim weighed one kilogram of apples for the cake.
Tonne
Der alte Lkw wiegt fast drei Tonnen.
The old truck weighs almost three tons.
In real life
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