01
pur
pure
Pure, unmixed, or unadulterated. It describes something in its pure form, without additives.
example
Er trinkt seinen Whisky am liebsten pur.
He likes to drink his whisky neat.
pur
pure
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Sentence position
Unlike most adjectives, 'pur' (pure) almost always stands unchanged after the noun it describes. It is not declined.
EXAMPLE
Ich trinke meinen Kaffee am liebsten schwarz und pur.
I like to drink my coffee black and pure.
Context clue
If 'pur' (pure/neat) refers to a drink or food, it means 'unmixed.' If it refers to an experience or feeling, it means 'nothing but' and serves as emphasis.
EXAMPLE
Möchtest du den Saft pur oder mit Wasser verdünnt trinken?
Would you like to drink the juice pure or diluted with water?
Typical combinations
For emotional emphasis, 'pur' (pure/sheer) is often combined with abstract nouns that describe a strong experience. Popular expressions are 'Adrenalin pur' (pure adrenaline), 'Natur pur' (pure nature), or 'Gänsehaut pur' (pure goosebumps).
EXAMPLE
Die Aussicht vom Berggipfel war einfach nur Natur pur.
The view from the mountain peak was simply pure nature.
Compare with
pur vs nur
only
'nur' and 'pur' can both express that nothing else is added. 'nur' limits a statement: it means 'not more than' or 'exclusively'. 'pur' more often describes that something is pure, unmixed, or consists entirely of one thing. Learners may confuse the words because both can sometimes seem like 'nothing but'. For quantities, people, or limitations, you usually use 'nur'. For taste, material, or strong emphasis on purity, 'pur' fits better.
pur
In der Küche trinkt Paul den Kaffee pur, ohne Milch und Zucker.
In the kitchen, Paul drinks his coffee black, without milk or sugar.
nur
Am Bahnhof wartet das Team nur zehn Minuten auf den Zug.
At the station, the team waits only ten minutes for the train.
In real life
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