höhe

Höhe is a German noun meaning height or altitude. Grammatically it is feminine: die Höhe, plural die Höhen. It denotes the vertical dimension of an object or space, or the vertical position of a point relative to a reference level such as sea level. In everyday language it appears in phrases like in Höhe von … or auf einer Höhe von … to specify numerical heights.

In geography and cartography, Höhe describes elevation above sea level or above a reference datum. Maps express heights with contour lines (Höhenlinien) and color shading to convey relief. In architecture and construction, Höhe denotes the vertical extent of a structure, from its base to its top. In photography and film, camera height refers to the vertical position of the camera relative to the subject.

Measurement and representation of height rely on various tools and conventions. Height is typically stated in meters and may be described as Höhe über dem Meeresspiegel (height above sea level) or Höhe über Normalnull (Höhe NN) in German geodata. The term Höhenmeter is used to denote vertical distance gained or measured, as in hiking or mountaineering. Modern datasets and maps often distinguish height, terrain elevation, and datum-specific references to ensure consistency across applications.

Related concepts include Höhe, Höhenlage (vertical position of a place), Höhenlinie (contour line), and Höhenprofil (elevation profile). While closely connected to width (Breite) and depth (Tiefe) as spatial dimensions, Höhe focuses specifically on the vertical aspect of objects, locations, and topography.