01
die Farbe
color
The property of light that arises from different wavelengths and is perceived by the eye, such as red, blue, or green.
example
Meine Lieblingsfarbe ist Blau.
My favorite color is blue.
die Farbe
color / paint
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Context: color vs. paint
Pay attention to the context to distinguish between the shade of color (e.g., red) and the substance used for painting. Verbs like 'mögen' (to like) or 'haben' (to have) point to the color, while 'streichen' (to paint) or 'kaufen' (to buy) refer to the substance.
EXAMPLE
Das Auto hat eine sehr schöne Farbe.
The car has a very beautiful color.
Typical adjectives
When referring to the shade of color, 'Farbe' (color) is often described with adjectives such as 'hell' (light), 'dunkel' (dark), 'kräftig' (strong/vivid), 'leuchtend' (bright), or 'bunt' (colorful).
EXAMPLE
Der Himmel hatte heute Morgen eine leuchtende Farbe.
The sky had a bright color this morning.
Typical collocations
When the substance used for painting is meant, typical combinations are 'Farbe auftragen' (to apply paint), 'Farbe trocknet' (paint dries), or quantity expressions such as 'ein Eimer Farbe' (a bucket of paint) or 'eine Tube Farbe' (a tube of paint).
EXAMPLE
Lass die Farbe gut trocknen, bevor du das Bild anfasst.
Let the paint dry well before you touch the picture.
Context: card games
The meaning 'Kartensymbol' (card suit), e.g., hearts or diamonds, is used exclusively in the context of card games. Signal words are 'Karte' (card), 'Trumpf' (trump), 'Spiel' (game), or 'stechen' (to take a trick).
EXAMPLE
Bei diesem Spiel musst du immer die gleiche Farbe bedienen.
In this game, you must always follow suit.
Fixed expression
'Farbe bekennen' (to show one's true colors) is a fixed idiom. It means to show one's true opinion or position. The expression is used as a whole.
EXAMPLE
In der Diskussion musste der Minister endlich Farbe bekennen und seine Pläne offenlegen.
In the discussion, the minister finally had to show his true colors and reveal his plans.
Compare with
Farbe vs Lack
lacquer / varnish
'Farbe' and 'Lack' can both be liquids that you apply to a surface. 'Farbe' is the more general word: you use it, for example, to paint a wall or paint a picture. 'Lack' is more specific. It forms a smooth, often shiny protective layer, for example on a car, a piece of furniture, or fingernails. Learners may confuse the words because both change a surface. If the main point is the color or shade, you are more likely to say 'Farbe'. If protection, shine, or a hard coating is important, 'Lack' fits better.
Farbe
Für das Kinderzimmer kaufen wir helle Farbe.
We are buying light-colored paint for the children's room.
Lack
Nach dem Unfall ist der Lack am Auto zerkratzt.
After the accident, the car's paint is scratched.
In real life
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