lacquer / varnish
Loading your saved state.
lacquer / varnish
A liquid substance applied to surfaces to protect them and give them a smooth, often shiny coating. It is used, for example, for cars, furniture, or fingernails.
Der Lack des Neuwagens hat leider schon einen tiefen Kratzer.
Unfortunately, the new car's paint already has a deep scratch.
'Der Lack' means a protective coating in German, such as paint or nail polish. It should not be confused with the English word 'lack', which means 'Mangel' (shortage/absence).
Ich brauche neuen Lack, um die Gartenmöbel zu streichen.
I need new varnish to paint the garden furniture.
Common verbs used with 'Lack' (lacquer/varnish/paint) are 'Lack auftragen' (to apply lacquer/paint), 'den Lack polieren' (to polish the paint), or 'den Lack zerkratzen' (to scratch the paint). The word is also part of compounds such as 'Autolack' (car paint) or 'Nagellack' (nail polish).
Nach dem Waschen hat er den Autolack sorgfältig poliert.
After washing the car, he carefully polished the car paint.
The phrase 'der Lack ist ab' (literally: the lacquer is off) is a fixed colloquial idiom. It is used for people or things that are past their best and are no longer new or attractive.
Das Handy funktioniert noch, aber man sieht, dass der Lack ab ist.
The phone still works, but you can see that it is past its prime.
color / paint
'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.
Nach dem Unfall ist der Lack am Auto zerkratzt.
After the accident, the car's paint is scratched.
Für das Kinderzimmer kaufen wir helle Farbe.
We are buying light-colored paint for the children's room.