German Conversation · Level 35
75 words
German word
Gestein
Pronunciation
IPA/gəˈʃtaɪ̯n/
Meaning
- neuter nounrock
Example
Am Strand findet man oft Gesteine mit Muscheln.
At the beach, you often find rocks with shells on them.
More examples
Das brüchige Gestein zerbrach unter dem Hammer.
The brittle rock broke under the hammer.
Core concept
A cliff or mountain wall viewed as one continuous body of mineral material rather than as separate stones.
Common phrases
brüchiges Gestein
brittle rock
ein Stück Gestein
a piece of rock
vulkanisches Gestein
volcanic rock
Similar words
Stein: An individual stone lying on a path or beach.
Felsen: A large rock or steep rock wall on a coast or mountain.
Kiesel: A small, rounded pebble that can be held in one hand.
Definition in German
Natürlich entstandene feste Substanz aus Mineralbestandteilen, die als Felsen oder größere Gesteinsformation auftreten kann.
Word origin
Gestein developed from the older collective form gestein, built with the elements ge- and Stein.
Usage tips
- German uses Stein for an individual stone and Gestein for geological rock material, so English rock does not always map to the same noun.
Related words
- Gesteinsbildungrock formationnoun
- gesteinsbildendrock-formingadjective