Topic: German

"It is free."

Translation:Es ist kostenlos.

April 18, 2013

43 Comments

https://www.duolingo.com/calypsoleo

    How do you know when to use "kostenlos" or "frei" in a sentence? They are the same, right? Thanks in advance!

    March 9, 2014
    https://www.duolingo.com/CharlesFid

      Frei is free as in not a slave while kostenlos is free as in the bread is free of charge.

      July 23, 2014
      https://www.duolingo.com/lazar.ljubenovic
      • 1274

      Or more simply, free speech and free beer.

      October 4, 2014
      https://www.duolingo.com/reconnoisance

        In German : Freier Rede und kostenloses Bier

        June 16, 2015
        https://www.duolingo.com/BobShmob
        Plus

          *freie Rede. Freibier is also a word, but that's a special one :)

          August 30, 2015
          https://www.duolingo.com/sandeepa2
          • 1444

          Danke!

          March 12, 2015
          https://www.duolingo.com/wgehring
          • 14

          I checked "Es ist kostenlos" AND Es ist gratis and was marked wrong. Any idea why?

          April 18, 2013
          https://www.duolingo.com/wataya

            No, "es ist gratis" should be fine.

            April 18, 2013
            https://www.duolingo.com/reconnoisance

              Is funny in Spanish there's the same word Gratis with the same meaning than German

              February 25, 2015
              https://www.duolingo.com/AldenParker

                gratis is a latin word originally meaning "as a kindness", that is used in many languages to mean "free"

                May 31, 2015
                https://www.duolingo.com/9isme

                  True. Gratis is also used in my language (Indonesian)

                  November 20, 2015
                  https://www.duolingo.com/L.Detch

                    "Gratis" derives from the ablative form of the latin word "gratia", thus it is pretty common in romance languages (e.g. we use it in italian too, while in french it's mostly used "gratuit", which is similar anyway)

                    February 26, 2019
                    https://www.duolingo.com/seacruizer

                      I'm assuming the reason for kostenlos being the correct translation is because kostenlos means free in terms of money, and frei in terms of freedom? I guess they assumed you'd think "it" as being a purchasable item. But I agree, the sentence is confusing without knowing the context of the situation.

                      August 21, 2014
                      https://www.duolingo.com/jerstrike

                        Does "Frei" applies for this sentence?

                        June 3, 2013
                        https://www.duolingo.com/Lexht

                          "Frei" means free as in "freedom", or "available", "kostenlos" means free as in costs nothing.

                          December 6, 2013
                          https://www.duolingo.com/wataya

                            No, it's not that simple: "Entrance is free" – "Der Eintritt ist frei".

                            December 6, 2013
                            https://www.duolingo.com/Russell28

                              Because you are "Free to enter"

                              February 11, 2014
                              https://www.duolingo.com/BobShmob
                              Plus

                                As a clueless german, i think "freier Eintritt", "Freikarte", "Freibier" etc. are remnants from ages ago when frei did mean gratis.

                                August 30, 2015
                                https://www.duolingo.com/wataya

                                  yes

                                  July 9, 2013
                                  https://www.duolingo.com/margiemarston

                                    yes, but lower case - frei

                                    November 26, 2013
                                    https://www.duolingo.com/Yiesroa

                                      Feuer Frei~

                                      July 13, 2014
                                      https://www.duolingo.com/Weltfrieden
                                      Plus

                                        BANG BANG!

                                        October 13, 2015
                                        https://www.duolingo.com/starry_night776

                                          Does anyone know the difference between "Es ist kostenlos" and "Es ist gratis"?

                                          January 8, 2015
                                          https://www.duolingo.com/wataya

                                            Basically, you can use them interchangeably.

                                            January 8, 2015
                                            https://www.duolingo.com/kerloom

                                              http://www.gutefrage.net/frage/was-ist-der-unterschied-zwischen-gratis-und-kostenlos Tl;dr: gratis comes from latin, kostenlos hints towards no money involved. Gratis hints no money involved such as a free candy.

                                              January 8, 2015
                                              https://www.duolingo.com/Mariitana

                                                Why pronoun "das" is not correct?

                                                March 3, 2014
                                                https://www.duolingo.com/icybreeze9

                                                  'Das' is 'that', which is different from 'it'

                                                  March 15, 2014
                                                  https://www.duolingo.com/MissSeychie

                                                    This post is idomatic because go by Duos rules

                                                    June 10, 2015
                                                    https://www.duolingo.com/MuhamedAvd

                                                      They should add cost free as a translation

                                                      September 12, 2016
                                                      https://www.duolingo.com/RADHIKA108

                                                        Frei is now accepted

                                                        May 22, 2017
                                                        https://www.duolingo.com/ElizabethA870744

                                                          If the subject is only "es" (Es ist...) doesn't that mean either kostenlos or frie is useable, as you don't know the actual subject? Or do you always use kostenlos because it is gender neutral and generally only applies to things? There are das subjects that can be "set free".

                                                          May 18, 2014
                                                          https://www.duolingo.com/joseph.lon

                                                            In Germany, I have also seen the word "Kostfrei!" I think that pretty much clears up the meaning for most between "kostenlos" and "frei!"

                                                            December 19, 2014
                                                            https://www.duolingo.com/ktinparis

                                                              I wrote, "Es ist frei" and it was correct.

                                                              January 12, 2015
                                                              https://www.duolingo.com/xx.baila.xx

                                                                Wir haben katzen

                                                                June 14, 2015
                                                                https://www.duolingo.com/luisvh5

                                                                  I see that English speakers have many problems distinguishing between "free" in terms of money and "free" in terms of freedom

                                                                  June 28, 2015
                                                                  https://www.duolingo.com/VanessaSil764070

                                                                    What is the difference between "kostenlos" or "frei" ? Thank you.

                                                                    July 2, 2015
                                                                    https://www.duolingo.com/stevenjayipad

                                                                      Kostenlos and gratis have slightly different emphasis. Gratis generally more of a gift.

                                                                      January 2, 2016
                                                                      https://www.duolingo.com/NathanEgan2

                                                                        What is the differece between gratis and kostenlos?

                                                                        April 19, 2017
                                                                        https://www.duolingo.com/PranavTumk

                                                                          Is there a difference between gratis and kostenlos? Or can they be used interchangeably?

                                                                          September 11, 2018
                                                                          https://www.duolingo.com/CeCe2011

                                                                            Why is it not correct to use das instead of es????

                                                                            April 16, 2014
                                                                            https://www.duolingo.com/dr_psht

                                                                              the answer is above: because das=this/that, while es=it.

                                                                              April 29, 2014
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