what is it?
A measure expression pairs a numeral with a unit noun (Glas, Kilo, Tasse, Stück) to state an amount of something. The unit noun and the substance noun stand side by side in apposition — no preposition separates them. German also has special forms for halves (halb vs. die Hälfte), mixed numerals (anderthalb, zweieinhalb), a distributive particle (je), and a distributive article construction (zweimal die Woche, drei Euro das Kilo).
when to use it
Ordering or buying a quantity — whenever you name how much of something you want: zwei Glas Bier, eine Flasche Wasser, 100 Gramm Käse.
Stating a price per unit — use the definite article after the price: drei Euro das Kilo, zwei Euro die Flasche.
Expressing a half — use the adjective halb- before a noun (eine halbe Stunde) or the noun die Hälfte as a standalone subject or object (die Hälfte des Kuchens).
Distributing equally — use je before the numeral to mean «each» or «per person»: Wir bekommen je zwei Karten.
formation
Masculine and neuter measure nouns stay singular after a numeral. Feminine measure nouns take the plural. The substance noun follows directly — no von.
| unit noun | gender | after numeral | example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glas | neuter | singular: Glas | zwei Glas Bier |
| Stück | neuter | singular: Stück | drei Stück Kuchen |
| Kilo / Kilogramm | neuter | singular: Kilo | 500 Gramm Käse |
| Euro | masculine | singular: Euro | zwei Euro |
| Liter | masculine | singular: Liter | ein Liter Milch |
| Tasse | feminine | plural: Tassen | zwei Tassen Kaffee |
| Flasche | feminine | plural: Flaschen | drei Flaschen Wasser |
halb vs. die Hälfte
| form | use | example |
|---|---|---|
| halb- (adjective) | directly before a noun; declines like an adjective | eine halbe Stunde, ein halbes Kilo |
| die Hälfte (noun) | standalone subject or object | Die Hälfte des Kuchens ist fertig. |
Mixed numerals: anderthalb (1½) and zweieinhalb (2½) are uninflected and precede the measure noun directly: anderthalb Stunden, zweieinhalb Kilo.
Distributive je: place je immediately before the numeral. It is uninflected: je zwei Karten, je ein Stück.
Distributive article (price / frequency per unit): place the definite article agreeing with the unit noun after the price or frequency: drei Euro das Kilo, zweimal die Woche.
examples in context
common pitfalls
Do not insert von between the measure noun and the substance.
The two nouns stand in apposition — they sit next to each other with no preposition. *eine Flasche von Wasser is wrong; the correct form is eine Flasche Wasser. (English «of» has no equivalent here.)
Do not pluralize masculine or neuter measure nouns.
Masculine and neuter units stay in the singular after any numeral. *zwei Kilos Äpfel and *drei Stücke Kuchen are wrong. Say zwei Kilo Äpfel and drei Stück Kuchen. The same applies to Euro: zwei Euro, not *zwei Euros.
Do not use die Hälfte where the adjective halb- is needed.
When half modifies a noun directly, use the adjective halb- with the correct ending: eine halbe Stunde. Writing *eine Hälfte Stunde is wrong. Reserve die Hälfte for cases where it functions as a noun in its own right: Die Hälfte des Kuchens ist für dich.
Three sentences, graded here. Nothing is saved and no account is needed.
Am Strand kaufe ich eine Flasche ___ für den heißen Tag.
Fill in the blank with the correct word to complete the quantity expression.