The invention relates to a method and a device for determining the watercontent of amedium, in particular of soils and likewise, wherein a measurement probe orsensor located in amedium is heated. A temporal change of the temperature is effected by way ofthe leading-awayof the thermal energy through moisture in the environment of the measurementprobe, and thischange is used for determining the moisture content of the medium. Anintermediate layer isarranged between the measurement probe and the surrounding medium, which isabsorbent andis mechanically deformable for mechanically coupling the measurement probe tothesurrounding medium, and for thermally decoupling the measurement probe and thesurroundingmedium, in a manner such that an exact humidity measurement is effectedwithout the thermalinfluence of the largely undefined surrounding medium.
