noun
dirt, filth
B1
Schmutz (der) means dirt or filth — generally uncountable. Use to describe grime, stains or moral/metaphorical dirt. Masculine noun; singular declensions include genitive des Schmutzes and dative dem Schmutz. There is no regular plural; usually treated as uncountable (no plural form).
Examples
Der Schmutz musste sofort entfernt werden.
The filth had to be removed immediately.
Auf dem Boden liegt viel Schmutz.
There's a lot of dirt on the floor.
Nach dem Bau entfernten Arbeiter den Schmutz, damit die Wohnung wieder bewohnbar wurde.
After the construction, workers removed the dirt so that the apartment became habitable again.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture a dirty floor with dust and grime labeled 'Schmutz'.
Sounds like English 'smuts' without the 's' — remember 'Schmutz' = dirt.
der — imagine a man (der) covered in dirt to remember masculine gender.
Notes
Schmutz is usually used as a mass noun (uncountable). You normally don't use a plural in everyday speech. Common collocations: 'Schmutz entfernen', 'Schmutz sehen'. | Singular-only (mass) noun; plural forms are not applicable.