Dutzend

Dutzend is a German noun meaning a quantity of twelve items. It is used as a counting unit in everyday language, for example in phrases like ein Dutzend Eier (twelve eggs) or ein Dutzend Bücher. The term also appears in plural as Dutzende, and in the dative/genitive forms as Dutzenden, for instance aus Dutzenden von Möglichkeiten.

Etymology and origins are not entirely settled. The word is of Germanic origin and is closely related to Dutch dozijn and the English word dozen. It is commonly believed to derive from the same Romance root that produced douzaine in French, referring to a group of twelve, but the exact path into German is uncertain. The earliest attestations appear in Middle High German to Early New High German.

Usage and context are largely straightforward. In everyday language, Dutzend serves as a precise quantity (twelve) when used with a numeral, or as a general dozen in vague references such as “mehrere Dutzende.” In commerce and description, products are often sold or described by the Dutzend, reinforcing its role as a standard unit of count. The plural form Dutzende is widely used when referring to multiple dozens, while Dutzenden is used in inflected positions such as dative or genitive.

In summary, Dutzend denotes a dozen and functions as a common unit of quantity in German, with established plural forms and a usage pattern that extends into both precise counting and broader, non-specific references to dozens.