01
braun
brown
Having the color of earth, wood, or chocolate.
example
Der Hund hat weiches, braunes Fell.
The dog has soft, brown fur.
braun
brown
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Meanings
01 / 04
Usage tips
Context clues
The meaning of 'braun' (brown) depends heavily on the context. If you are talking about objects, it refers to the color (m01). If you are talking about skin, someone is suntanned (m02). In a political context, it is a negative label (m03), and in cooking it describes the degree of cooking or browning (m04).
EXAMPLE
Er hat braune Augen.
He has brown eyes.
Cultural context
The political meaning of 'braun' (brown) for far-right or National Socialist comes from the brown uniform shirts of the SA (Sturmabteilung) in the Third Reich. This color became a symbol of the movement.
EXAMPLE
Historiker warnen vor dem Wiederaufleben von braunem Gedankengut.
Historians warn against the resurgence of far-right ideology.
Use with 'werden'
To describe the process of sunbathing, 'braun' (tan) is very frequently combined with the verb 'werden' (to become). The phrase 'braun werden' means 'to sunbathe and get a tan'.
EXAMPLE
Ich liege in der Sonne, weil ich ein bisschen braun werden möchte.
I'm lying in the sun because I want to get a little tan.
Typical collocation
In cooking and baking, 'braun' (brown) is often combined with 'gold-' to form 'goldbraun' (golden brown). This describes perfect, appetizing browning that is not too dark.
EXAMPLE
Backen Sie den Kuchen, bis er goldbraun ist.
Bake the cake until it is golden brown.
Word family
The verb 'bräunen' (to tan/brown; to make something brown or become brown) and the noun 'die Bräune' (the tan; the brown skin color from the sun) are derived from the adjective 'braun' (brown).
EXAMPLE
Sie bräunt sich am Strand.
She is tanning at the beach.
Compare with
braun vs nationalsozialistisch
Nazi / National Socialist
'braun' and 'nationalsozialistisch' can both refer to the politics of National Socialism. 'nationalsozialistisch' is the precise, factual word, especially when talking about history, ideology, or the Nazi period. 'braun' in this political sense is derogatory and often less precise; it can also mean far-right in a more general way. The important point is: 'braun' has many normal meanings as a color, but in political texts it can have this special meaning. For clear historical statements, 'nationalsozialistisch' is usually more precise.
braun
In der Diskussion warnte die Lehrerin vor braunen Parolen.
In the discussion, the teacher warned against far-right slogans.
nationalsozialistisch
Im Unterricht lesen die Schüler einen Text über nationalsozialistische Propaganda.
In class, the students read a text about Nazi propaganda.
In real life
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