Translating Raw Materials for Ceramics: English to German
Moving into a new country or working with international suppliers often means navigating language differences. For ceramicists, potters, and glaze makers, having raw materials translated correctly can save time and avoid costly mistakes. Since I recently moved my studio to Hamburg, I created this translation chart to help myself—and hopefully others—bridge the gap between English and German raw material names.
Below you’ll find a side-by-side list of common ceramic raw materials in English with their German equivalents. This guide is especially useful when ordering from German suppliers, updating your studio records, or setting up a bilingual online store.
Download the PDF here:
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0940/4271/8554/files/Raw_Materials_English_to_German.pdf?v=1758878144
This translation chart is a work in progress, and I’ll continue to update it as I come across new materials. If you’ve had any confusing translation experiences with ceramics supplies, I’d love to hear about them—please leave a comment below!
| English Name/Brand | German Name |
|---|---|
| Nepheline Syenite | Nephelin-Syenit |
| Potassium Feldspar (Mahavir) | Kali Feldspat |
| Soda Feldspar | Natrium-Feldspat |
| Ball Clay | Ball Clay |
| Spodumene | Spodumen |
| Silica (Flint) | Quarzmehl |
| Calcium Carbonate (Whiting) | Kalkspat (Kalziumcarbonat) |
| EPK | Kaolin / China Clay |
| Talc | Talkum |
| Strontium Carbonate | Strontiumcarbonat |
| Barium Carbonate | Bariumcarbonat |
| Zinc Oxide | Zinkoxid |
| Gerstley Borate | Gerstley Borat |
| Red Iron Oxide | Eisenoxid rot |
| Zircopax | Zirkonsilikat |
| Copper Carbonate | Kupfercarbonat |
| Nickel Carbonate | Nickelcarbonat |
| Manganese Dioxide | Braunstein |
| Rutile | Rutil |
| Tin Oxide | Zinnoxid |
| Titanium Oxide | Titanoxid |
| Bentonite | Bentonit |
| Chrome Oxide | Chromoxid |
| Cobalt Carbonate | Kobaltcarbonat |
| Silicon Carbide | Siliziumcarbid |
| Ulexite | Ulexit |
| Albany Slip | Albany Slip |
| Alberta Slip | Alberta Slip |
| Wollastonite | Wollastonit |
| Stains | Farbkörper |
| Soda Calcinated | Soda Calz |
| Iron Oxide Black | Eisenoxid schwarz |
| Zircon Opacifier | Zirkonsilikat |
| Manganese Carbonate | Manganesecarbonat |
| Alumina Hydrate | Aluminiumhydroxid |
| Wax Resist | Abdeckwachse |
| Dispex (Darvan) | Dolapix PC67 (Verflüssiger) |
| Sodium Silicate | Natronwasserglas / Natrium-Silicat |
| Ferro Frit 3134 | Calziumborsilikat (Ferro 3134) |
| Ferro Frit 3124 | Calziumborsilikat (Ferro 3124) |
| Ferro Frit 3110 | Natriumborsilikat (Ferro 3110) |
| Ferro Frit 3195 | Alkaliborsilikat (Ferro 3195) |