German Colors: Farben Vocabulary Explained
Learn all the colors in German, from the three primary colors to twelve more, and the words to describe them in detail. You also learn how to ask about colors: Welche Farbe hat ...?
The Three Primary Colors (Grundfarben)
| German | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| gelb | yellow | Die Sonnenblume ist gelb. |
| rot | red | Der Bus ist rot. |
| blau | blue | Die Blaubeeren sind blau. |
Question: Welche Farbe hat die Sonnenblume? Answer: Sie ist gelb. Careful with the plural: Welche Farbe haben die Blaubeeren? Sie sind blau.
Twelve More Colors
| German | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| grün | green | Die Reisfelder sind grün. |
| braun | brown | Die Kaffeebohnen sind braun. |
| beige | beige, very light brownish | Die Handschuhe sind beige. |
| rosa | pink | Die Rosen sind rosa. |
| türkis | turquoise | Das Meer ist türkis. |
| orange | orange | Der Kürbis ist orange. |
| lila / violett | purple | Die Blume ist lila. |
| golden | golden | Der Drache ist golden. |
| silbern | silver | Das Besteck ist silbern. |
| grau | grey | Der Himmel ist grau. (often said about bad weather before rain) |
| schwarz | black | (emphasis: pechschwarz, pitch black) |
| weiß | white | (emphasis: schneeweiß, snow white) |
Türkis is used for a very shallow, light blue sea. Giftgrün describes a very bright green that almost hurts your eyes. Gift means poison in German.
Bonus Tip: Describing Colors in More Detail
- Add dunkel (dark) or hell (light, bright) in front of the color, as one word: dunkelblau, hellblau, dunkelgrün, hellgrün.
- bunt means colorful, when there are too many colors to name.
- kunterbunt emphasizes that something is super colorful, with all colors in it.
Homework
Answer the question Welche Farbe hat deine Handyhülle?
What to Learn Next
Describe more with Top 40 German Adjectives and German Adjective Endings. For more vocabulary, see 20 German Materials and Basic German Question Words.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the primary colors in German?
Gelb (yellow), rot (red) and blau (blue).
How do I ask about a color in German?
Ask Welche Farbe hat ...?, for example Welche Farbe hat der Bus? Answer: Er ist rot.
How do I say light blue or dark green in German?
Put hell or dunkel directly in front of the color as one word: hellblau, dunkelgrün.
How do I say colorful in German?
Bunt, and kunterbunt if it is super colorful.
How do I emphasize black and white in German?
Say pechschwarz (pitch black) and schneeweiß (snow white).
Want to describe the world around you in German? Our A1 German online course builds your vocabulary step by step.
