violet / black eye
das Veilchen, die Veilchen
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violet
A small, often fragrant plant with distinctive flowers, usually violet or blue, that grows in spring.
Im Frühling pflücke ich gerne einen kleinen Strauß Veilchen im Garten.
In spring, I like to pick a small bouquet of violets in the garden.
black eye
A colloquial term for a bluish or violet swelling around the eye caused by a hit or impact. A black eye.
Nach dem Sturz vom Fahrrad hatte er ein dickes Veilchen am linken Auge.
After falling off his bike, he had a big black eye on his left eye.
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| plural | die Veilchen |
| genitive | des Veilchens |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Veilchen | die Veilchen |
| accusative | das Veilchen | die Veilchen |
| dative | dem Veilchen | den Veilchen |
| genitive | des Veilchens | der Veilchen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
The two meanings are very different and are made clear by context. If people are talking about a garden, flowers, or fragrance, the plant is meant. If people are talking about an eye, a blow, a fall, or a fight, the injury is meant.
Im Garten meiner Oma duften die Veilchen.
The violets in my grandma's garden smell lovely.
Nach dem Boxkampf hatte er ein blaues Veilchen.
After the boxing match, he had a black eye.
The ending '-chen' is a diminutive form. It makes the noun neuter ('das Veilchen') and indicates that it is something small—fitting for the small flower.
Das kleine Veilchen wächst zwischen den großen Steinen.
The little violet grows between the large stones.
The meaning 'blaues Auge' (black eye) is colloquial. In a medical report or in formal language, you would more likely use 'Hämatom am Auge' (hematoma around the eye) or 'blaues Auge' (black eye).
Woher hast du denn das Veilchen?
Where did you get that black eye?
When referring to the injury, typical phrases are 'ein Veilchen haben' (to have a black eye), 'ein Veilchen bekommen' (to get a black eye), or 'sich ein Veilchen holen' (to end up with a black eye). It is often intensified with adjectives like 'dick' (big/swollen) or 'blau' (blue).
Pass auf, dass du dir beim Spielen kein Veilchen holst.
Be careful you don't end up with a black eye while playing.
