Materials for Building and Construction

Today's lesson is about materials used for building and construction. Some of these are associated with modern construction, while others have been around for thousands of years!

Deine Schuhe waren wie aus Beton.

Your shoes were like they were made of concrete.

Caption 5, Emilio: Roter Sand

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Hätte es nicht einfacher Gips auch getan?

Wouldn't plaster of paris have done?

Caption 63, Tatortreiniger: Currywurst

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Hier laufen die enormen Mengen an Sand, Zement, Stahl und Kies ein.

Here is where the enormous quantities of sand, cement, steel, and gravel arrive.

Caption 10, Die Insel Fehmarn: So wird der Fehmarnbelt-Tunnel gebaut

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Im Jahre vierzehnhundertzweiundsiebzig haben die Menschen die Brücke aus Stein gebaut.

In fourteen seventy-two, the people built the bridge out of stone.

Captions 25-26, Bundesländer und ihre Rezepte: Thüringen

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Other nouns to know are der Backstein and der Mauerziegel ("the brick") and die Rigipsplatte ("the Sheetrock").

There are many kinds of wood that are used for different purposes. When we talk about lumber, we use the name of the tree followed by -holz, sometimes adding an "n" in between. 

Eichenholz ist sehr fest und wertvoll. Es ist ein Holz zur Herstellung von Möbeln und Parkettböden.

Oak wood is very strong and valuable. It is a wood for making furniture and parquet floors.

Captions 47-48, Deutsch mit Eylin: Bäume

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Other examples are das Buchenholz ("the beech wood"), das Birkenholz ("the birch wood"), das Kiefernholz ("the pine wood"), and das Ahornholz ("the maplewood"). 

Further Learning
What is the building you are living in made of? Create a few sentences and search for more examples on German Yabla.