01
bunt
colorful
Having many different colors; full of color.
example
Die Blumenwiese im Frühling ist wunderschön bunt.
The flower meadow in spring is beautifully colorful.
bunt
colorful
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Typical collocations
In the meaning 'farbenfroh' (colorful), 'bunt' is often used to describe clothing, flowers, pictures, or festivals. Typical combinations are 'bunte Kleidung' (colorful clothing), 'bunte Blumen' (colorful flowers), or 'ein buntes Bild malen' (to paint a colorful picture).
EXAMPLE
Die Kinder malen gerne mit bunten Stiften.
The children like drawing with colorful pencils.
Literal and figurative
Besides the literal meaning 'farbenfroh' (colorful), 'bunt' is often used figuratively for 'vielfältig' (diverse) or 'gemischt' (mixed). It then describes groups, programs, or a mixture of different things.
EXAMPLE
Wir haben ein buntes Programm für die Feier vorbereitet.
We prepared a varied program for the celebration.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'es zu bunt treiben' is a fixed unit. It means that someone is exceeding the limits of what is allowed. The verb 'treiben' is conjugated and adjusted to the person.
EXAMPLE
Als er anfing, die Wände zu bemalen, trieb er es eindeutig zu bunt.
When he started painting the walls, he was clearly going too far.
Compare with
bunt vs grau
gray
'grau' and 'bunt' are often opposites. With colors, 'grau' means a mixture of black and white, without a strong color. 'bunt', on the other hand, means that there are many colors. The contrast also works in a figurative sense: 'ein grauer Tag' (a gray day) feels bleak or boring, while 'ein buntes Programm' (a varied program) feels varied and lively. When it comes to color or mood, you can remember: 'grau' feels rather calm or bleak, while 'bunt' feels more colorful and diverse.
bunt
Für das Projekt malen die Kinder ein buntes Plakat.
For the project, the children are painting a colorful poster.
grau
Am Morgen war der Himmel grau, und die Stadt wirkte sehr still.
In the morning, the sky was gray, and the city felt very quiet.
In real life
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