das Blau
blue
The color blue, a color between green and violet.
EXAMPLE
Das Blau des Meeres leuchtete in der Sonne.
The blue of the sea shone in the sunlight.
das Blau
blue
das Blau, die Blau
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Meanings
das Blau
blue
A blue coloring substance or dye used for coloring or painting.
EXAMPLE
Für dieses Bild verwendete die Künstlerin ein besonders kräftiges Blau.
For this painting, the artist used a particularly vivid blue.
ins Blaue hinein
off the top of one's head
Without a specific goal, a fixed plan, or sufficient knowledge of the matter.
EXAMPLE
Er redete ins Blaue hinein und wusste die Antwort selbst nicht.
He was talking off the top of his head and didn't even know the answer himself.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Blau, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| plural | die Blau |
| genitive | des Blaus |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Blau | die Blau die Blaus |
| accusative | das Blau | die Blau die Blaus |
| dative | dem Blau | den Blau den Blaus |
| genitive | des Blaus | der Blau der Blaus |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Substantivized adjective
'Blau' (blue) is a substantivized adjective when used as a color name and is therefore capitalized. It is often preceded by an article or a descriptive adjective, for example in the phrase 'ein helles Blau' (a light blue) or 'ein kräftiges Blau' (a vivid blue).
EXAMPLE
Ein tiefes Blau bedeckte den Abendhimmel.
A deep blue covered the evening sky.
Typical collocations
For the meaning related to color, 'Blau' (blue) is often combined with color adjectives or with a reference to a surface or object. Typical patterns are 'helles Blau' (light blue), 'dunkles Blau' (dark blue), 'das Blau des Himmels' (the blue of the sky), and 'in Blau' (in blue).
EXAMPLE
Die Wände leuchten in einem warmen Blau.
The walls glow in a warm blue.
Fixed expression
In 'ins Blaue hinein' (off the top of one's head), 'Blau' (blue) is a fixed part of an idiom. The expression is often used with verbs such as 'reden' (to talk), 'raten' (to guess), or 'behaupten' (to claim), and describes statements made without confirmed knowledge or a concrete plan.
EXAMPLE
Bitte rate nicht ins Blaue hinein, sondern prüfe zuerst die Fakten.
Don't guess off the top of your head; check the facts first.
In real life
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