01
die Malerei
painting
The art or activity of creating pictures with colors.
example
Sie hat sich schon in ihrer Jugend für die Malerei interessiert.
She was already interested in painting in her youth.
die Malerei
painting
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
01 / 03
Usage tips
Word formation
'Die Malerei' (painting) is derived from the verb 'malen' (to paint). The ending '-ei' often denotes an activity (as here), a place (Bäckerei, bakery), or the result of an activity.
EXAMPLE
Er malt in seiner Freizeit gerne Landschaften.
He likes to paint landscapes in his free time.
Context clue
The three meanings are closely related. 'Malerei' (without an article) often means the art form. 'Eine Malerei' is a single picture. 'Die Malerei einer Epoche' (e.g. 'die Malerei der Romantik') describes a style.
EXAMPLE
Sie interessiert sich für Malerei.
She is interested in painting.
Typical collocations
When 'Malerei' means the art form as a whole, it is often used with verbs such as 'sich interessieren für' (to be interested in), 'studieren' (to study), or 'sich beschäftigen mit' (to engage with).
EXAMPLE
An der Universität kann man Kunstgeschichte und Malerei studieren.
At university, you can study art history and painting.
Sentence structure and usage patterns
To describe a particular style, 'Malerei' is often combined with an adjective, e.g. 'moderne Malerei' (modern painting), or a genitive attribute, e.g. 'die Malerei des Barock' (Baroque painting).
EXAMPLE
Moderne Malerei ist oft sehr experimentell.
Modern painting is often very experimental.
Compare with
Malerei vs Bild
picture / image
'das Bild' and 'die Malerei' are close in meaning when it comes to painted representations. 'Bild' usually means a single visible result, for example a photo, a drawing, or a painted work. 'Malerei' often means the art or activity of painting. Sometimes 'Malerei' can also mean a single painted work of art or the works of a particular period, but that sounds more technical. Learners may confuse the words because painted pictures are part of Malerei. In everyday language, for a single work, 'Bild' or 'Gemälde' is usually more natural.
Malerei
In diesem Kurs lernt Sofia die Grundlagen der Malerei.
In this course, Sofia learns the basics of painting.
Bild
Das Kind zeigt stolz sein Bild mit vielen bunten Farben.
The child proudly shows his picture with lots of bright colors.
In real life
Loading video examples...