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farbig
colored / in color
Having one or more colors; not black, white, or gray.
example
Für die Präsentation habe ich extra farbiges Papier gekauft.
I bought colored paper especially for the presentation.
farbig
colored / in color
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word structure
The adjective 'farbig' (colored) is derived directly from the noun 'die Farbe' (color). The ending '-ig' is often used to form an adjective from a noun meaning 'having the quality of something'.
EXAMPLE
Sie trug ein farbiges Tuch im Haar.
She wore a colored scarf in her hair.
Context clue
The meaning of the word depends strongly on the context. If it refers to an object, a picture, or a document, it means 'bunt' (colorful / in color). If it refers to a person, it has the outdated meaning that is often considered problematic.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du mir das Dokument farbig ausdrucken?
Can you print the document in color for me?
Typical collocations
In the meaning 'bunt' (colorful / in color), 'farbig' (colored) is often combined with things that are perceived visually. Typical examples are: 'farbiges Papier' (colored paper), 'farbige Stifte' (colored pencils), 'farbige Kleidung' (colored clothing), or 'ein farbiger Ausdruck' (a color printout).
EXAMPLE
Kinder malen gerne mit farbigen Stiften.
Children like to draw with colored pencils.
Cultural note
As a term for people, 'farbig' (colored) is considered outdated today and is regarded by many people as inappropriate or discriminatory. The term is usually used only in historical contexts now and should be avoided in modern usage.
EXAMPLE
Der Begriff „Farbige“ war in der Zeit der Rassentrennung in den USA gebräuchlich.
The term 'Farbige' (colored people) was common during the time of racial segregation in the United States.
Compare with
farbig vs schwarz
black
'schwarz' and 'farbig' can both have to do with color, but they do not mean the same thing. For objects, 'schwarz' means the darkest color, while 'farbig' means that something has one or more colors and is not only black, white, or gray. For people, the difference is especially important: 'Schwarz' can be a self-designation or a respectful term. 'farbig' used to be used for non-white people, but today it is often considered outdated and problematic. Learners may confuse the words because both have also been used for people. For objects, 'farbig' is unproblematic; for people, you should be very careful.
farbig
Für das Plakat brauchen wir ein farbiges Bild, nicht nur eine Kopie in Grau.
For the poster, we need a color image, not just a gray copy.
schwarz
Für das Konzert trägt Lisa ein schwarzes Kleid.
Lisa is wearing a black dress for the concert.
In real life
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