German Conversation · Level 42
75 words
German word
messen
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈmɛsn̩/
Meaning
- verbmeasure
Example
Der Arzt misst den Blutdruck.
The doctor measures the blood pressure.
More examples
Um die Zutaten genau zu messen, benutze ich eine Küchenwaage.
To measure the ingredients precisely, I use a kitchen scale.
Core concept
A scale, gauge, or calculation fixes the size of something, while a contest measures one person's ability against another's.
Common phrases
die Temperatur messen
measure the temperature
den Puls messen
measure the pulse
die Länge messen
measure the length
Similar words
wiegen: Determine an object's weight using a scale.
ausmessen: Determine exact dimensions by measuring an object's length or width.
Definition in German
Durch Messung mit Geräten oder durch Rechnen den Wert einer physikalischen Größe ermitteln
Word origin
Messen is an inherited Germanic verb from Proto-Germanic *metaną, with cognates including Dutch meten and archaic English mete.
Usage tips
- The reflexive phrase sich mit jemandem messen means to compete with someone, and mit takes the dative case.