All German word comparisons · Back to the topic overview
Meaning, sentence patterns and examples
| Word | Core meaning | Typical context | Grammar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wert | value; worth | financial worth or importance | der Wert; plural Werte |
| Preis | price; prize | a purchase amount or an award | der Preis; plural Preise |
| Kosten | costs; expenses | a project’s or activity’s expense | die Kosten; plural-only noun |
Wert
Meaning and usage: Wert can express financial worth, importance, a measured value or an ethical value. Der Wert eines Autos is its value, while persönliche Werte concerns principles. Worth is not necessarily a price quoted by a seller, although market value and price can be close.
Grammar: Der Wert; genitive des Werts or Wertes; plural die Werte. Etwas hat einen Wert; Wert auf etwas legen uses auf + accusative in the fixed expression for regarding something as important.
Der persönliche Wert dieser Uhr ist für mich höher als ihr Verkaufspreis.
The personal value of this watch to me is higher than its selling price.
Preis
Meaning and usage: Preis commonly names the amount charged for a product or service. It can also mean a prize or award; a competition context normally makes that meaning clear. Figuratively, something can einen Preis haben when it involves a sacrifice rather than a payment.
Grammar: Der Preis; genitive des Preises; plural die Preise. Der Preis für etwas uses für + accusative; zu einem Preis uses zu + dative.
Der Preis für das Fahrrad beträgt 280 Euro.
The price of the bicycle is 280 euros.
Kosten
Meaning and usage: Kosten are expenses or the monetary effort involved in an activity. They may include several components, but the noun remains plural even for one overall amount. A plural grammar pattern does not tell you whether the bill has one item or twenty.
Grammar: Die Kosten, plural only; genitive der Kosten; dative den Kosten. Use plural agreement: die Kosten sind hoch. The verb kosten is a different word class: das Fahrrad kostet ….
Die Kosten für Lieferung und Montage kommen noch dazu.
The costs of delivery and assembly are added on top.
Overlap and context
Der Preis der Reise and die Kosten der Reise may both refer to what someone pays. Costs can also be a broader total including travel, meals and incidental expenses. Preis does not always mean money, because it also means prize. Read the whole sentence before deciding which English sense applies.
Common mistakes
- Avoid Die Kosten ist hoch. The noun requires sind.
- Do not use Wert automatically for the number on a price tag. Preis is the clearer shopping word.
- A prize in a competition is also ein Preis; it is not necessarily a purchase amount.
Memory aid: Wert: worth. Preis: quoted or paid amount. Kosten: expenses involved. Remember Kosten with sind.
Try it
Complete: Die Kosten für den Umzug ___ höher als erwartet.
Show the answer
sind
Kosten is grammatically plural, even if one total amount is meant.