01
bleich
pale
Describes a very light, pale facial color, often as a result of shock, illness, or fear.
example
Er wurde bleich vor Schreck, als er die Nachricht hörte.
He turned pale with shock when he heard the news.
bleich
pale
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
The adjective 'bleich' (pale) belongs to the word family around 'bleichen' (to bleach). All words in this family have to do with the loss of color. This helps you understand the basic meaning 'colorless' or 'pale'.
EXAMPLE
Die Sonne hat das alte Foto über die Jahre gebleicht.
The sun bleached the old photo over the years.
Typical use
When 'bleich' (pale) describes a person, it is often used with the verbs 'werden' (to become) or 'sein' (to be). The cause of the paleness is often expressed with the preposition 'vor' + dative.
EXAMPLE
Sie wurde ganz bleich vor Angst, als sie das Geräusch hörte.
She turned completely pale with fear when she heard the noise.
Typical collocations
In the meaning 'schwach' (weak) or 'verblasst' (faded), 'bleich' (pale) often describes light sources or colors. Typical combinations are 'das bleiche Mondlicht' (the pale moonlight), 'ein bleicher Himmel' (a pale sky), or 'bleiche Farben' (pale colors).
EXAMPLE
Durch das Fenster fiel nur das bleiche Licht einer Straßenlaterne.
Only the pale light of a streetlamp fell through the window.
Compare with
bleich vs weiß
white
'weiß' and 'bleich' can both describe a very light, colorless face. 'weiß' feels very direct and often strong: someone's face goes white because they are frightened or suddenly feel unwell. 'bleich' also means very pale, but it sounds a bit more descriptive and often somewhat more serious or literary. Both fit with fear, illness, or fright. In normal conversation, people also often say 'blass'; 'bleich' usually makes the impression stronger.
bleich
Nach der langen Nacht saß Maria bleich am Küchentisch.
After the long night, Maria sat pale at the kitchen table.
weiß
Beim Arzt wurde mein Bruder plötzlich weiß im Gesicht.
At the doctor's office, my brother's face suddenly went pale.
In real life
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