Zentner

centner (50 kg in Germany)

noun TSENT-ner Rare

Origin: from Latin 'centenarius' (hundredfold)

Usage Note

Zentner denotes 50 kg in Germany and Austria (100 lb in older usage). Still heard in agriculture and everyday speech: ein Zentner Kartoffeln. Do not confuse with the metric tonne.

Examples

"Der Bauer verkaufte mehrere Zentner Kartoffeln auf dem Markt."

Natural Translation

The farmer sold several centners of potatoes at the market.

Literal Translation

The farmer sold several centner potatoes at the market.

Related Words

Explore German by topic

GermanNow

How Long Does It Take to Learn German? Real Timeline

How long to learn German? Conversational B1 takes ~6–12 months, fluent B2 about 1.5–2.5 years part-time. Here's an honest, hours-based timeline by CEFR level.

June 9, 2026 5 min read

GermanNow

Du vs. Sie: When to Use Each in German

Use Sie with strangers, elders, and at work; use du with friends, family, kids, and peers. Here's how to pick the right German you every time.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

Tipping in Germany: A Visitor's Etiquette Guide

Tipping in Germany means saying your total out loud, not leaving coins. Learn the exact phrases, how much to tip, and the Sie-vs-du etiquette travelers need.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

German Adjective Endings Made Simple

German adjective endings come down to one question, not three tables: does the article already show gender and case? If yes, the adjective stays lazy.

June 5, 2026 6 min read