01
das Sonnenlicht
sunlight
The natural light that comes directly from the sun.
example
Die Blumen auf dem Balkon brauchen viel Sonnenlicht, um zu wachsen.
The flowers on the balcony need a lot of sunlight to grow.
das Sonnenlicht
sunlight
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Meanings
Usage tips
Compound word
The word is made up of 'die Sonne' (the sun) and 'das Licht' (the light). The '-n-' in between is a linking n that connects the two parts of the word.
EXAMPLE
Am Morgen fiel das erste Sonnenlicht durch das Fenster.
In the morning, the first sunlight fell through the window.
Grammatical use
'Sonnenlicht' (sunlight) is an uncountable noun and is almost always used in the singular without an article or with the article 'das'. A plural form practically does not exist.
EXAMPLE
Die Pflanzen auf der Fensterbank bekommen zu wenig Sonnenlicht.
The plants on the windowsill get too little sunlight.
Typical adjectives
Common adjectives that describe 'Sonnenlicht' (sunlight) are 'helles' (bright), 'warmes' (warm), 'grelles' (glaring), or 'direktes' (direct) sunlight.
EXAMPLE
Wir saßen im Garten und genossen das warme Sonnenlicht.
We sat in the garden and enjoyed the warm sunlight.
Compare with
Sonnenlicht vs Licht
light
'das Licht' and 'das Sonnenlicht' both have to do with brightness. 'das Licht' is the general term and can be natural or artificial. So it can come from the sun, a lamp, or a candle. 'das Sonnenlicht' refers only to the light that comes directly from the sun. Learners may confuse the words because sunlight is, of course, also light. If the source does not matter, 'Licht' is enough. If you want to emphasize that it comes from the sun, 'Sonnenlicht' is more precise.
Sonnenlicht
Die Pflanzen stehen am Fenster, weil sie viel Sonnenlicht brauchen.
The plants are by the window because they need a lot of sunlight.
Licht
Am Abend macht Tom das Licht in der Küche an.
In the evening, Tom turns on the light in the kitchen.
In real life
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