noun
material, materials
B1
Material (neuter noun) means 'material' or 'materials'—substance or supplies. Singular often uncountable (das Material); plural Materialien refers to different materials or items. Gender: das. Declension: dem Material (dat), des Materials (gen). Common in manufacturing, construction, education and lists of resources or course materials; used figuratively: e.g., psychological or digital materials.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.EXAMPLES
Das Material für das Bauprojekt wurde gestern geliefert.
The materials for the construction project were delivered yesterday.
Aus welchem Material ist der Schrank? – Aus Holz.
What material is the cabinet made of? — It's made of wood.
Für den Kurs brauche ich mehr Material zum Lesen.
I need more material to read for the course.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.DETAILS_LABEL
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.MNEMONICS
Picture a pile of fabric, wood and metal labeled 'Material' in a workshop.
Same as English 'material' — pronounce it like 'mah-teh-ree-ahl'.
das — remember 'das Material' (neuter); many abstract or collective nouns are neuter.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.NOTES
Material can be uncountable (material in general) or refer to specific items (often plural: Materialien). In perfect tenses German often uses 'das Material' or the plural 'die Materialien' depending on countability.