01
dunkel
dark
With little or no light; dark.
example
Mach bitte das Licht an, es ist schon ganz dunkel im Zimmer.
Please turn on the light; it's already quite dark in the room.
dunkel
dark
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Opposite pairs
The adjective 'dunkel' (dark) is often used in contrast to its opposite 'hell' (light/bright). This applies to light and colors as well as to figurative meanings such as sounds.
EXAMPLE
Im Winter wird es früh dunkel und spät hell.
In winter, it gets dark early and light late.
Word composition
To describe a color as a dark variant, 'dunkel' (dark) is simply placed before the color adjective. It then forms a new compound adjective.
EXAMPLE
Sie trägt am liebsten dunkelgrüne Kleidung.
She prefers wearing dark green clothing.
Typical collocations
In the figurative meaning 'geheimnisvoll' (mysterious) or 'zwielichtig' (shady), 'dunkel' (dark) is often combined with nouns such as 'Vergangenheit' (past), 'Geheimnis' (secret), 'Ahnung' (premonition), or 'Kapitel' (chapter).
EXAMPLE
Er hat eine dunkle Ahnung, dass etwas nicht stimmt.
He has a dark suspicion that something is wrong.
Context clue
When 'dunkel' (dark/deep) describes a sound, it means a low, resonant tone. It is used almost exclusively for voices or musical instruments.
EXAMPLE
Das Cello erzeugt einen warmen, dunklen Klang.
The cello produces a warm, deep sound.
Fixed expression
The expression 'sich dunkel an etwas erinnern' (to vaguely remember something) is a fixed combination. It means that the memory is only vague and imprecise.
EXAMPLE
Ich kann mich nur dunkel an das Gesicht des Mannes erinnern.
I can only vaguely remember the man's face.
Compare with
dunkel vs klar
clear
'klar' and 'dunkel' can form a contrast when it comes to understanding or knowledge. 'klar' then means that something is unambiguous and easy to understand. In this context, 'dunkel' means that something is unclear, mysterious, or only vague. For example, you say that a memory is 'dunkel' if you do not remember it exactly. 'dunkel' is also possible for light or colors, but that is not the relevant opposite of 'klar' here.
dunkel
Ich erinnere mich nur dunkel an dieses Gespräch.
I only vaguely remember that conversation.
klar
Seine Antwort war kurz, aber ganz klar.
His answer was short, but completely clear.
In real life
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