silbern
silver
Consisting of or made from the precious metal silver.
EXAMPLE
Sie trug eine Kette mit einem silbernen Anhänger.
She wore a necklace with a silver pendant.
silbern
silver
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Meanings
silbern
silver
Having the color of silver; shining with a silvery gleam.
EXAMPLE
Der Mond warf ein silbernes Licht auf den See.
The moon cast a silver light on the lake.
silbern
silver
Used figuratively for a 25-year anniversary, especially a silver wedding anniversary.
EXAMPLE
Meine Großeltern feiern nächstes Jahr ihre silberne Hochzeit.
My grandparents are celebrating their silver wedding anniversary next year.
silbern
silvery
Used in poetic language for a bright, clear sound.
EXAMPLE
Ihre silberne Stimme verzauberte das Publikum.
Her silvery voice enchanted the audience.
Usage tips
Word structure
The adjective 'silbern' (silver) is derived from the noun 'das Silber' (silver). The ending '-n' or '-ern' is often used to form adjectives that describe a material, as also in 'golden' (golden) or 'hölzern' (wooden).
EXAMPLE
Er polierte das silberne Besteck für die Feier.
He polished the silver cutlery for the celebration.
Context clue
Context tells you whether 'silbern' (silver) refers to the material or the color. With jewelry or cutlery, the material is often meant. With objects like cars, or when describing light and hair, 'silbern' always refers to the color.
EXAMPLE
Ihr silbernes Haar glänzte in der Sonne.
Her silver hair shone in the sun.
Fixed expression
With regard to anniversaries, 'silbern' (silver) is used almost exclusively in the fixed expression 'die silberne Hochzeit' (silver wedding anniversary) for a 25-year wedding anniversary.
EXAMPLE
Nächstes Jahr feiern wir unsere silberne Hochzeit.
Next year we are celebrating our silver wedding anniversary.
Poetic language
The use of 'silbern' (silvery) to describe a sound is poetic or literary. It is often found in combinations such as 'eine silberne Stimme' (a silvery voice) or 'ein silbernes Lachen' (a silvery laugh) to describe a bright and clear tone.
EXAMPLE
Das silberne Lachen des Kindes erfüllte den Raum.
The child’s silvery laughter filled the room.
Compare with
silbern vs grau
gray
When hair has lightened with age, „grau“ and „silbern“ can describe the same visible color. „Grau“ is the neutral term, while „silbern“ emphasizes the light sheen and usually sounds more positive. „Grau“ is appropriate for a factual description; „silbern“ is appropriate for an appreciative description of shiny hair.
silbern
Auf dem festlichen Porträt glänzt sein Haar silbern.
In the formal portrait, his hair shines silver.
grau
Sein Haar ist im Laufe der Jahre grau geworden.
His hair has turned gray over the years.
In real life
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