schwarz
black
The darkest color, the color of coal or the night. The opposite of white.
EXAMPLE
Zum Interview trug er einen schwarzen Anzug.
He wore a black suit to the interview.
schwarz
black
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Meanings
schwarz
illegal
Colloquial for illegal, without official permission or registration with the authorities.
EXAMPLE
Wer ohne Ticket fährt, fährt schwarz und riskiert eine Strafe.
Anyone who rides without a ticket is riding illegally and risks a fine.
schwarz
dark / gloomy
Figuratively, dark, pessimistic, ominous, or evil.
EXAMPLE
Trotz der Probleme sollten wir nicht alles schwarz sehen.
Despite the problems, we shouldn't see everything so negatively.
schwarz auf weiß
in black and white
A fixed expression meaning that something is recorded in writing and is therefore binding or verifiable.
EXAMPLE
Ich glaube es erst, wenn ich es schwarz auf weiß habe.
I'll only believe it when I have it in black and white.
schwarz
Black
Describes people who are identified as Black or identify themselves that way, often in relation to African heritage.
EXAMPLE
Martin Luther King war ein Anführer der Schwarzen Bürgerrechtsbewegung in den USA.
Martin Luther King was a leader of the Black civil rights movement in the USA.
schwarz
conservative
In politics, the color associated in Germany and Austria with conservative, Christian democratic parties (CDU/CSU, ÖVP).
EXAMPLE
Bei der letzten Wahl hat der schwarze Kandidat das Direktmandat gewonnen.
In the last election, the conservative candidate won the direct mandate.
Usage tips
Colloquial: illegal
In colloquial language, 'schwarz' (black/illegal) often means 'illegal' or 'without official registration'. It is often combined with verbs such as 'arbeiten' (to work), 'fahren' (to ride/drive), or 'sehen' (to watch).
EXAMPLE
Er hat seine Wohnung schwarz untervermietet.
He illegally sublet his apartment.
Figurative: pessimistic
Figuratively, 'schwarz' (black/dark) can stand for something negative, pessimistic, or ominous. This meaning appears in many fixed expressions.
EXAMPLE
Das war ein schwarzer Tag für den Verein.
That was a dark day for the club.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'etwas schwarz auf weiß haben' (to have something in black and white) means that you have written, official proof of something. The form is always the same.
EXAMPLE
Ich möchte den Vertrag schwarz auf weiß sehen, bevor ich unterschreibe.
I want to see the contract in black and white before I sign.
As a noun for people
The adjective 'schwarz' (black) can be used as a noun to refer to a person ('der/die Schwarze' — the Black man/woman). It is then declined like a noun and capitalized.
EXAMPLE
Die Ausstellung zeigt Werke von Schwarzen Künstlerinnen und Künstlern.
The exhibition shows works by Black artists.
Political meaning
In German and Austrian politics, the color 'schwarz' (black) traditionally stands for the conservative, Christian democratic parties (CDU/CSU and ÖVP).
EXAMPLE
Bei der Wahl hat die schwarze Partei die meisten Stimmen bekommen.
In the election, the conservative party received the most votes.
Word family
The verb 'schwärzen' is derived from 'schwarz' (black). It literally means 'to make something black' or, figuratively, 'to damage someone's reputation'.
EXAMPLE
Der Rauch des Feuers schwärzte die Hauswand.
The smoke from the fire blackened the wall of the house.
Compare with
schwarz vs dunkel
dark
Schwarz and dunkel can both refer to a very dark color. Schwarz names the color itself, while dunkel also describes other deep shades such as blue or green. Use schwarz for true black and dunkel when a color has little brightness or is approaching black.
schwarz
Die neue Jacke ist tiefschwarz.
The new jacket is jet black.
dunkel
Für das Wohnzimmer wählte sie ein dunkles Grün.
She chose a dark green for the living room.
In real life
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