Durchmesser
masculine
The English phrase "diameter" is translated into German as Durchmesser. Wiktionary also lists Diameter.
Meaning: length of this line (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | Note |
|---|---|
| Durchmesser | masculine |
| Diameter | masculine |
The term refers to the length of this line (noun), such as a Kreis (circle), a Kugel (sphere), a Röhre (tube) or a Reifen (tire).
What does it mean word for word?
The word Durchmesser is a compound of durch, meaning "through" and Messer, meaning "measurer" or "measure", literally translating to "through-measure".
How does it change in a sentence?
Durchmesser is a masculine noun. In the plural, the form remains Durchmesser. When using the genitive case to express "of the diameter", you add the ending -s, resulting in Durchmessers.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using the spelling Diameter. The correct German spelling is Durchmesser.
Did you know?
- If you ask for a Messer in a workshop, you are asking for a 'knife', but within the word Durchmesser, the same spelling refers to the act of 'measuring'.
- In German technical drawings and blueprints, the symbol ⊕ is used for Durchmesser, but in casual speech, people may simply refer to the 'width' Breite if the object is cylindrical.
- The word Durchmesser is built from the verb messen, which is the same root that gives us the English word 'measure'.
Examples in context
- Der Durchmesser beträgt etwa 3 cm.The diameter is about three centimeters.This sentence is useful for stating a measurement using Durchmesser.Tatoeba #13945927 by Waldelfe, translation #12212175 by CK
- Die Erde hat einen Durchmesser von 12 742 km.Earth has a diameter of 12,742 kilometers.Tatoeba #10367081 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #10367079 by shekitten
- Es hat einen Durchmesser von etwa acht Zentimetern.It's about three inches in diameter.Tatoeba #6392346 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #4016450 by CK
- Der Durchmesser dieser Kugel beträgt 10 Zentimeter.The diameter of this sphere is 10 centimeters.
- Bitte geben Sie den Durchmesser der Röhre in Millimetern an.Please provide the diameter of the tube in millimeters.
- Kannst du mir den Durchschnitt dieses Kreises sagen? Ich meine den Durchmesser.Can you tell me the average of this circle? I mean the diameter.
- Wie breit ist dieser Reifen? Mein Freund möchte den Durchmesser wissen.How wide is this tire? My friend wants to know the diameter.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felix and Hannah are looking at a technical drawing in a workshop.
- FelixHannah, kennst du den Durchmesser dieser Schraube?Hannah, do you know the diameter of this screw?
- HannahNein, ich muss den Durchmesser erst messen.No, I have to measure the diameter first.
- FelixKannst du das für mich machen?Can you do that for me?
- HannahJa, Felix, ich mache das sofort.Yes, Felix, I will do that immediately.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “diameter” translations and entries Durchmesser, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Durchmesser, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
