der Kram
stuff / junk
Colloquial and often derogatory for a disorderly collection of various things, usually worthless or unnecessary.
EXAMPLE
Räum endlich deinen ganzen Kram vom Tisch!
Finally clear all your stuff off the table!
der Kram
stuff / junk
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Meanings
der Kram
stuff
Colloquial for a particular matter, activity, or topic, often with a slightly dismissive or annoyed connotation.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe keine Lust, mich um den ganzen organisatorischen Kram zu kümmern.
I don't feel like dealing with all the organizational stuff.
Usage tips
Register and style
'Kram' (stuff/junk) is a colloquial word and is usually used in a derogatory or annoyed way. It is used in informal conversation, but not in formal texts or situations.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe keine Zeit für diesen ganzen Kram.
I don't have time for all this stuff.
Only singular
The word 'Kram' (stuff/junk) is used almost exclusively in the singular. A plural form ('die Kräme') practically does not exist in modern language. You always speak of 'dem Kram', even when you mean many things.
EXAMPLE
Bitte nimm deinen Kram aus meinem Zimmer.
Please take your stuff out of my room.
Typical collocation
The combination 'der ganze Kram' (all that stuff) is very common. This expression intensifies the negative or annoyed attitude and can refer both to a lot of messy things and to unpleasant tasks.
EXAMPLE
Wer soll diesen ganzen Kram aufräumen?
Who's supposed to clean up all this stuff?
Compare with
Kram vs Sache
thing / matter
Sache usually refers neutrally to a matter or problem. Kram can also colloquially mean a matter, but often conveys impatience or dismissiveness. Use Sache when simply referring to the topic that needs to be resolved; when annoyed by it, you can say Kram.
Kram
Müssen wir diesen Kram heute wirklich noch klären?
Do we really still have to deal with this stuff today?
Sache
Wir müssen diese Sache heute noch klären.
We still have to resolve this matter today.
In real life
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