pitch-dark
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pitch-dark
A very rare, colloquial, and mostly outdated short form of 'zapfenduster' (pitch-dark), meaning completely dark or gloomy. The expression derives from the military 'Zapfenstreich' (tattoo), the signal to turn off the lights.
Ohne die Taschenlampe wäre es hier im Keller zapfen.
Without the flashlight, it would be pitch-dark down here in the basement.
This adjective is very rare today and is considered outdated. In modern language, the full form 'zapfenduster' (pitch-dark) or simply 'stockdunkel' (pitch-black) is used instead.
Früher sagte man: „Mach das Licht an, es ist ganz zapfen hier drin.“
People used to say: 'Turn on the light, it's completely pitch-dark in here.'
'Zapfen' is a shortened form of 'zapfenduster' (pitch-dark). This expression comes from the military 'Zapfenstreich' (tattoo), the evening signal after which no lights were allowed to remain on in the barracks.
Nach dem Zapfenstreich musste in der Kaserne absolute Ruhe herrschen.
After the tattoo, absolute quiet had to prevail in the barracks.
The adjective 'zapfen' (pitch-dark) is easily confused with the noun 'der Zapfen' (cone, e.g., pine cone) or the verb 'zapfen' (to tap, e.g., to tap beer). The adjective is extremely rare, while the other parts of speech are very common.
Der Wirt muss ein neues Fass Bier zapfen.
The innkeeper has to tap a new barrel of beer.
dark
'dunkel' and 'zapfen' can both mean that there is very little light. 'dunkel' is the normal word, understood everywhere, for a room, a night, or a place with little light. 'zapfen' is very rare and colloquial in this meaning; people usually know the form 'zapfenduster' (pitch-dark) instead. That is why 'dunkel' almost always sounds more natural. 'zapfen' fits at most in very casual language or when someone deliberately uses an old-fashioned or joking expression.
Ohne Taschenlampe war es im alten Keller wirklich zapfen.
Without a flashlight, it was really pitch-dark in the old basement.
Im Flur war es dunkel, weil die Lampe kaputt war.
It was dark in the hallway because the lamp was broken.