das Stück
piece
A single part of a larger whole or quantity.
EXAMPLE
Möchtest du auch ein Stück von meinem Kuchen probieren?
Would you like to try a piece of my cake too?
das Stück
piece
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Meanings
das Stück
item / unit
A single specimen or counting unit for certain goods.
EXAMPLE
Die Eier kosten 30 Cent das Stück.
The eggs cost 30 cents each.
das Stück
play
A work written for the stage; a theater play.
EXAMPLE
Am Wochenende sehen wir uns im Theater ein modernes Stück an.
At the weekend, we are going to see a modern play at the theater.
das Stück
piece
A musical composition; a piece of music.
EXAMPLE
Der Pianist spielte als Zugabe ein kurzes Stück von Mozart.
As an encore, the pianist played a short piece by Mozart.
das Stück
stretch
Part of a route or path.
EXAMPLE
Wir müssen noch ein ganzes Stück laufen, bis wir am Gipfel sind.
We still have quite a stretch to walk before we reach the summit.
am Stück
in one stretch
Without interruption; in one single continuous period of time.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe die ganze Nacht acht Stunden am Stück geschlafen.
I slept eight hours in one stretch all night.
Stück für Stück
piece by piece
Gradually; step by step.
EXAMPLE
Das Puzzle wird Stück für Stück zusammengesetzt.
The puzzle is being put together piece by piece.
Usage tips
Use as a counting word
'Stück' (piece) is often used as a counting word for uncountable things or individual objects. In this function, 'Stück' often remains singular even with numbers greater than one: 'zwei Stück Kuchen' (two pieces of cake), 'drei Stück Obst' (three pieces of fruit).
EXAMPLE
Ich nehme bitte zwei Stück von diesem Käse.
I’ll take two pieces of this cheese, please.
Context clue
The meanings 'Theaterstück' (play) and 'Musikstück' (piece of music) are very similar. The context makes the difference clear: verbs like 'aufführen' (to perform), 'inszenieren' (to stage), or nouns like 'Bühne' (stage) and 'Theater' (theater) point to a play. 'Spielen' (to play), 'komponieren' (to compose), 'hören' (to hear/listen to), or instrument names point to a piece of music.
EXAMPLE
Das Orchester spielte ein unbekanntes Stück von Beethoven.
The orchestra played an unknown piece by Beethoven.
Sentence structure
When 'Stück' (piece) refers to a part of something uncountable, the noun often follows directly without an article. You say 'ein Stück Kuchen' (a piece of cake), not 'ein Stück ein Kuchen'.
EXAMPLE
Kann ich bitte ein Stück Papier haben?
Can I have a piece of paper, please?
Use in commerce
In a commercial context, 'Stück' (item/unit) is used to indicate the price for a single item. Typical formulations are 'pro Stück' (per item) or 'das Stück' (each).
EXAMPLE
Die Äpfel kosten 50 Cent pro Stück.
The apples cost 50 cents each.
Typical collocations
When 'Stück' (stretch) describes part of a route, it is often combined with adjectives like 'gut' (good/considerable), 'ganz' (whole/quite), or 'weit' (far). It expresses that the distance is considerable.
EXAMPLE
Von hier ist es noch ein gutes Stück bis zum Bahnhof.
From here, it is still quite a stretch to the train station.
Fixed expression
The expression 'am Stück' (in one stretch) means 'without a break' or 'uninterruptedly'. It is often used to describe the duration of an activity.
EXAMPLE
Er kann einen ganzen Film am Stück ansehen, ohne auf sein Handy zu schauen.
He can watch an entire film in one stretch without looking at his phone.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'Stück für Stück' (piece by piece) means 'gradually' or 'step by step'. It describes a process that takes place slowly and in stages.
EXAMPLE
Er lernt die neue Software Stück für Stück.
He is learning the new software piece by piece.
Compare with
Stück vs Teil
part
Both words can refer to a separated component of a whole. „Teil“ describes it neutrally as a related section or component, while „Stück“ places more emphasis on the individual, concrete piece or portion. Use „Teil“ for its relationship to the whole and „Stück“ for the concrete unit.
Stück
Ich nehme ein Stück von der großen Torte.
I’ll take a piece of the large cake.
Teil
Dieser Teil des Kuchens gehört noch zur großen Torte.
This part of the cake is still part of the large cake.
In real life
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