der Mondschein
moonlight
The light that shines from the moon to the earth, especially at night.
EXAMPLE
Wir machten einen romantischen Spaziergang im Mondschein.
We took a romantic walk in the moonlight.
der Mondschein
moonlight
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Meanings
Usage tips
Compound word
This word is made up of 'der Mond' (the moon) and 'der Schein' (the glow, the light). So it literally means 'the glow of the moon'.
EXAMPLE
Der helle Mondschein erhellte den ganzen Garten.
The bright moonlight lit up the whole garden.
Fixed preposition
To express that something happens by moonlight, the preposition 'in' with the dative is almost always used: 'im Mondschein' (in the moonlight). An alternative is 'bei Mondschein' (by moonlight).
EXAMPLE
Die Kinder tanzten im Mondschein am Strand.
The children danced in the moonlight on the beach.
Typical collocations
'Mondschein' (moonlight) is often connected with romantic or quiet activities. Typical verbs are 'spazieren gehen' (to go for a walk), 'sitzen' (to sit), or 'lesen' (to read).
EXAMPLE
Das Paar saß lange im Mondschein auf der Parkbank.
The couple sat for a long time in the moonlight on the park bench.
Compare with
Mondschein vs Mondlicht
moonlight
Mondlicht and Mondschein both refer to the moonlight visible at night. Mondlicht explicitly identifies it as reflected sunlight; Mondschein describes the same light as it shines from the moon to the earth. In an ordinary nighttime scene, therefore, either word works.
Mondschein
Der Mondschein erhellte in dieser klaren Nacht den stillen Weg.
The moonlight illuminated the quiet path on that clear night.
Mondlicht
Das Mondlicht erhellte in dieser klaren Nacht den stillen Weg.
The moonlight illuminated the quiet path on that clear night.
In real life
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