hundredweight
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hundredweight
A unit of weight. In Germany, a 'Zentner' traditionally corresponds to 50 kilograms (100 pounds), while in the international metric system it often means 100 kilograms, known in German as a 'Doppelzentner' (double hundredweight).
Der Bauer hat drei Zentner Kartoffeln auf dem Markt verkauft.
The farmer sold three hundredweight of potatoes at the market.
The word 'Zentner' (hundredweight) comes from the Latin 'centum' (hundred). It originally referred to 100 pounds, which in Germany today corresponds to 50 kilograms.
Historisch wurde das Gewicht von Waren oft in Zentnern angegeben.
Historically, the weight of goods was often given in hundredweight.
In German usage, 'Zentner' (hundredweight) almost always means 50 kg. The internationally common unit of 100 kg is often called 'Doppelzentner' (double hundredweight) to distinguish it clearly.
Für den Ofen bestellte er zehn Zentner Kohle für den Winter.
For the stove, he ordered ten hundredweight of coal for the winter.
Like other units of measurement, 'Zentner' (hundredweight) is used in the singular after a number, even if the quantity is greater than one. So you say 'fünf Zentner', not 'fünf Zentnern'.
Der Elefant wiegt mehrere Dutzend Zentner.
The elephant weighs several dozen hundredweight.
The unit of measurement 'Zentner' (hundredweight) is used today mainly in agriculture (e.g., for potatoes or grain) or in the trade of raw materials (e.g., coal). In everyday shopping, people talk about kilos.
Der Landwirt erntete dieses Jahr über hundert Zentner Weizen.
The farmer harvested over a hundred hundredweight of wheat this year.
pound
'Pfund' and 'Zentner' can both be units of weight. That is exactly why they are easy to confuse. In Germany, a 'Pfund' normally means 500 grams. A 'Zentner' is much heavier: traditionally 50 kilograms, or 100 'Pfund'. 'Pfund' is used more for smaller amounts, for example when shopping. 'Zentner' is more suitable for very heavy amounts, such as potatoes, grain, or material. So the important difference is size: a 'Pfund' is small, while a 'Zentner' is very heavy.
Der Bauer brachte mehrere Zentner Kartoffeln zum Markt.
The farmer brought several hundredweight of potatoes to the market.
Für den Kuchen kaufe ich ein Pfund Butter.
For the cake, I buy a pound of butter.