01
der Indigo
indigo
A deep, dark shade of blue that lies between blue and violet.
example
Der Himmel färbte sich bei Sonnenuntergang in ein wunderschönes Indigo.
At sunset, the sky turned a beautiful indigo.
der Indigo
indigo
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Derivation
The common adjective 'indigoblau' (indigo-blue) is derived from the noun 'der Indigo' (indigo) to describe the color more precisely.
EXAMPLE
Sie trug ein indigoblaues Seidenkleid.
She wore an indigo-blue silk dress.
Use as a color
When 'Indigo' (indigo) is used as a color term, it often appears with the preposition 'in' (in). For example, people speak of a 'Kleid in Indigo' (dress in indigo).
EXAMPLE
Die Wände sind in einem tiefen Indigo gestrichen.
The walls are painted in a deep indigo.
Context clue
The meaning 'Farbstoff' (dye) can be recognized from the context. When the topic is production, chemistry, or the process of dyeing, e.g. 'mit Indigo färben' (to dye with indigo), the substance is meant.
EXAMPLE
Jeans werden traditionell mit Indigo gefärbt.
Jeans are traditionally dyed with indigo.
Compare with
Indigo vs Farbe
color / paint
'die Farbe' is the general word for a color impression such as red or blue, and also for paint as a material. 'der Indigo', on the other hand, is a specific dark shade of blue or a dye. The words can be confused because indigo can be both a color and a substance used for dyeing. Still, 'Indigo' is much more specific. When speaking about colors in general, you use 'Farbe'. When exactly this blue-violet shade or the dye is meant, you say 'Indigo'.
Indigo
Der Stoff hat einen tiefen Indigo, fast wie eine dunkle Jeans.
The fabric has a deep indigo, almost like dark jeans.
Farbe
Im Kunstkurs mischen wir heute eine neue Farbe für den Himmel.
In art class today, we are mixing a new color for the sky.
In real life
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