verb
to measure, to take measurements
B1
Meaning: 'to measure' or 'to take measurements' (e.g., etwas messen). It is a strong irregular verb (stem vowel e→i: du/er misst; past: maß; past participle: gemessen). It is transitive—takes a direct object—and uses haben as auxiliary. Imperative forms include 'Miss!' and 'Messt!'. Not reflexive or separable.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.EXAMPLES
Bitte messen Sie die Länge des Tisches mit dem Bandmaß.
Please measure the length of the table with the tape measure.
Er maß die Länge des Tisches.
He measured the length of the table.
Die Techniker maßen die Temperatur, nachdem das Gerät zehn Minuten lief, damit die Werte stabiler wurden.
The technicians measured the temperature after the device ran for ten minutes so that the readings became more stable.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.DETAILS_LABEL
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.MNEMONICS
Picture a ruler being placed on a table and someone reading the numbers — that's 'messen'.
Sounds like 'mess-en' — imagine making a small 'mess' when you check sizes with a tape measure.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.NOTES
Messen is an irregular strong verb (ich messe, du misst; Präteritum ich maß; Partizip II: gemessen). It normally takes 'haben' as auxiliary.