01
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 Schein
bill / glow / appearance
'der Schein' and 'der Mondschein' can both refer to light. 'Schein' is more general: it can be the light from the sun, a lamp, a candle, or a fire. 'Mondschein' is more specific and means only the light of the moon at night. The words can be confused because 'Mondschein' contains the word 'Schein'. But 'Schein' only names the type of light, while 'Mondschein' also names the source. If the light comes from the moon, 'Mondschein' is more natural and more precise.
Mondschein
Wir gingen im Mondschein leise am See entlang.
We walked quietly along the lake in the moonlight.
Schein
Im Schein der Taschenlampe fanden wir den Schlüssel unter dem Auto.
In the glow of the flashlight, we found the key under the car.
In real life
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