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
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Meanings
malen
to paint
To coat a surface, especially walls, ceilings, or furniture, with paint.
EXAMPLE
Wir müssen am Wochenende das Wohnzimmer neu malen.
We have to repaint the living room this weekend.
malen
to draw / paint
Especially of children: to put a picture on paper using colored pencils, markers, or watercolors.
EXAMPLE
Die Kinder sitzen am Tisch und malen bunte Bilder.
The children are sitting at the table and drawing colorful pictures.
sich etwas ausmalen
to imagine
To imagine something very vividly and in detail.
EXAMPLE
Ich kann mir schon ausmalen, wie überrascht sie sein wird.
I can already imagine how surprised she will be.
den Teufel an die Wand malen
to paint the devil on the wall
To be unnecessarily pessimistic and expect or describe the worst possible development of a situation.
EXAMPLE
Jetzt mal doch nicht gleich den Teufel an die Wand, vielleicht ist alles gar nicht so schlimm.
Now don't immediately paint the devil on the wall; maybe it isn't all that bad.
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 can both refer to creating a picture. Zeichnen usually focuses on lines, shapes, and outlines. When you malen, the picture is created mainly with colors, often using a brush.
malen
Sie malt denselben Baum mit grünen Wasserfarben.
She is painting the same tree with green watercolors.
zeichnen
Sie zeichnet einen Baum mit feinen Bleistiftlinien.
She is drawing a tree with fine pencil lines.
In real life
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