noun
dust
B1
Staub is a masculine noun (der Staub) meaning 'dust'. Usually an uncountable mass noun for dirt particles; occasionally pluralized as 'Stäube' to mean types or small heaps of dust. Plural 'Stäube' shows umlaut. Normal declension applies (genitive des Staubes). No auxiliary verb issues.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.EXAMPLES
Der Staub liegt auf dem Regal.
The dust is on the shelf.
Auf den Möbeln liegt eine dicke Schicht Staub.
There is a thick layer of dust on the furniture.
Die alte Bibliothek war voller Staub, nachdem das Gebäude jahrelang geschlossen blieb.
The old library was full of dust after the building remained closed for years.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.DETAILS_LABEL
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.MNEMONICS
Imagine a thin gray layer covering a shelf — that layer is Staub.
Sounds like 'stove' (imagine dust on a stove).
Der Staub — think 'der' = 'the' for a masculine pile of dust (imagine a man dusting).
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.NOTES
Staub is often uncountable in German (mass noun). A plural 'Stäube' exists but is rare and usually used in special contexts (different kinds of dust).