01
malen
to paint
To create a picture or work of art using paints (such as oil, acrylic, watercolor) and brushes.
example
Die Künstlerin malt am liebsten Landschaften in Öl.
The artist most likes to paint landscapes in oil.
malen
to paint
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
01 / 05
Usage tips
Word family
The verb 'malen' (to paint) is the basis for other important words. A person who paints is 'der Maler' or 'die Malerin' (the painter). The art form is called 'die Malerei' (painting), and a finished work of art is often 'das Gemälde' (the painting).
EXAMPLE
Mein Onkel ist Maler und hat sein eigenes Atelier.
My uncle is a painter and has his own studio.
Context clue
The exact meaning of 'malen' depends heavily on the context. If it is about art and canvas, meaning 1 is intended. If people are talking about walls and renovation, it is meaning 2. In connection with children and colored pencils, it is usually meaning 3.
EXAMPLE
Ein Künstler malt ein Porträt.
An artist paints a portrait.
Typical collocations
In an artistic context, 'malen' is often combined with the material or the subject. Typical phrases are 'ein Aquarell malen' (to paint a watercolor), 'ein Porträt malen' (to paint a portrait), or 'mit Ölfarben auf Leinwand malen' (to paint with oil paints on canvas).
EXAMPLE
Sie lernt in einem Kurs, mit Acrylfarben zu malen.
She is learning to paint with acrylic paints in a course.
Typical collocations
When it is about painting surfaces, typical objects are walls, ceilings, doors, or furniture. The color is often mentioned too: 'die Wand blau malen' (to paint the wall blue).
EXAMPLE
Wir haben am Samstag die ganze Wohnung weiß gemalt.
We painted the whole apartment white on Saturday.
Dative construction
The expression 'sich etwas ausmalen' uses a reflexive pronoun in the dative. The person imagining something is in the dative (mir, dir, sich).
EXAMPLE
Ich male mir schon aus, wie schön der Urlaub wird.
I'm already imagining how beautiful the vacation will be.
Fixed expression
'Den Teufel an die Wand malen' is a fixed idiom. It is used to admonish someone not to immediately assume the worst.
EXAMPLE
Warte doch erst mal ab und male nicht gleich den Teufel an die Wand!
Just wait and see first, and don't paint the devil on the wall right away!
Compare with
malen vs zeichnen
to draw / sign
'zeichnen' and 'malen' both mean making a picture. You tend to use 'zeichnen' when lines, shapes, or outlines are important, for example with a pencil, ballpoint pen, or chalk. You tend to use 'malen' when colors and areas of color are important, often with a brush, watercolors, or other paints. With children, however, people also often say 'malen', even when they are using colored pencils. That is why the words can be confused. As a simple guide: you draw lines and sketches with 'zeichnen', and you paint colorful pictures with 'malen'.
malen
Nach dem Unterricht malt meine Nachbarin ein buntes Bild für ihre Tochter.
After class, my neighbor is painting a colorful picture for her daughter.
zeichnen
Im Zug zeichnete Tom schnell den Umriss der Berge in sein Notizbuch.
On the train, Tom quickly drew the outline of the mountains in his notebook.
In real life
Loading video examples...