Kies
/kiːs/masculine
The English word gravel can be translated into German as Kies or Schotter.
Meaning: small fragments of rock (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Kies | /kiːs/ | masculine |
| Schotter | /ˈʃɔtɐ/ | masculine |
Both Kies and Schotter refer to fragments of rock, but they are used in different contexts. The related verb schottern means to apply a layer of gravel to the surface of a road, etc.
Which one should you use?
Schotter specifically refers to crushed rocks used in the construction of roads, railways or other similar applications. Schotter refers to larger, more angular and coarser crushed stone, often used for railway ballast or heavy-duty road construction. The term Schotterstraße is commonly used to describe unpaved roads made of crushed stone or gravel.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Both Kies and Schotter are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/kiːs/
Did you know?
- The word Kies has a surprising history in Rotwelsch, the secret slang of the German underworld, where it was influenced by the Yiddish and Hebrew words for 'pouch'.
- While both mean gravel, using Schotter in a conversation about finances might lead to confusion. In German slang, 'Schotter' is a common informal term for 'money'.
- German distinguishes between these two words based on the shape of the stone, where Schotter implies angular, crushed edges and Kies often implies more rounded grains.
Examples in context
- Sei auf Schotterstraßen vorsichtig!Be careful on gravel roads.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of Schotter in the context of roads.Tatoeba #11778753 by Yorwba, translation #6581086 by Eccles17
- Ziri bog in den kleinen Kiesweg ein.Ziri turned onto the little gravel road.This sentence shows how to use Kies to describe a small path.Tatoeba #12239765 by mhr, translation #11233749 by Amastan
- Wie viel kostet eine Wagenladung Kies?How much does a truckload of gravel cost?This sentence demonstrates how to use Kies when discussing quantity and cost.Tatoeba #11778759 by Yorwba, translation #9828561 by CK
- Bitte füllen Sie den Bereich mit Kies auf.Please fill the area with gravel.
- Wir benötigen Schotter für den Bau der Straße.We need gravel for the road construction.
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Sarah are in their garden looking at a construction project.
- MaximilianSoll ich den Kies heute verteilen?Should I spread the gravel today?
- SarahJa, bitte, Maximilian. Das wäre super.Yes, please, Maximilian. That would be great.
- MaximilianIst der Kies schwer zu bewegen?Is the gravel heavy to move?
- SarahEin bisschen, aber du schaffst das.A little, but you can do it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gravel” translations and entries Kies, Schotter, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Kies, Schotter, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
