In this post, we are going to discuss some Basic German Colours with English Translation. We included some Basic German Colours, Characteristics and some German Idioms in which colours are used.
Read Also: Learn Basic German Words & Phrases
Basic German Colours
Without getting into complicated shades and paint-store blends, here’s a list of the basic colors in German
| S. No. | Farbe | Colour |
| 1 | gelb | yellow |
| 2 | grüngelb | greenish yellow |
| 3 | indigo | indigo |
| 4 | blau | blue |
| 5 | dunkelblau | marine blue, |
| 6 | dark blue | |
| 7 | blaugrün | greenish blue |
| 8 | beige | beige |
| 9 | weiß | white |
| 10 | kaki | khaki |
| 11 | himmelblau | sky blue |
| 12 | grünblau | cyan |
| 13 | zimtfarben | cinnamon |
| 14 | cremefarben | cream |
| 15 | granatrot | maroon |
| 16 | grau | grey |
| 17 | braun | brown |
| 18 | violett | purple |
| 19 | lila | |
| 20 | orange | orange |
| 21 | schwarz | black |
| 22 | schwarz wie Ebenholz | jet black |
| 23 | rot | red |
| 24 | hellrot | light red |
| 25 | dunkelrot | dark red |
| 26 | rosa | pink |
| 27 | grün | green |
| 28 | violett, veilchen | violet |
| 29 | mahagonibraun | mahogany |
Colour characteristics
| Eigenschaften | Characteristics |
| matt | dull |
| brillant | bright |
| dunkel | dark |
| hell | light |
Some German Idioms in which colour is used
There’s no better way to sound like a native and impress your friends than to throw around the idioms the Germans say themselves. Here are some German Idioms in which colour is used
Read Also: Reasons Why Germany is a Best Travel Destination!
1. Bei Mutter Grün
Meaning: To be in nature
Literal Translation: To be with Mother Green
2. Das ist im grünen Bereich
Meaning: That’s normal
Literal Translation: That’s in the green area
3. Das blaue vom Himmel versprechen
Meaning: To promise the moon
Literal Translation: To promise the blue of the sky
4. Blauer Montag
Meaning: A Monday off from work
Literal Translation: Blue Monday
5. Er ist Blau
Meaning: He is drunk
Literal Translation: He is blue
6. Ins Schwarze treffen
Meaning: To hit the mark
Literal Translation: To meet in the black
7. Der rote Faden
Meaning: The common thread
Literal Translation: The red thread
8. Da kannst du warten bist du schwarz wirst
Meaning: You can wait there until hell freezes over
Literal Translation: You can wait there until you are black
9. Er ist ein Schwarzfahrer
Meaning: He is a dodger
Literal Translation: He is a black rider
10. Weißbluten
Meaning: To bleed someone dry (usually concerning money)
Literal Translation: To bleed white
11. Eine weiße Weste haben
Meaning: To be innocent
Literal Translation: To have a white vest
12. Auf keinen grünen Zweig kommen
Meaning: To not reach a goal
Literal Translation: To not arrive on a green branch
13. Jemanden grün und blau Schlagen
Meaning: To beat someone up badly
Literal Translation: To beat someone green and blue
14. Alles grau in grau Malen
Meaning: To be pessimistic
Literal Translation: Everything gray in gray paint
15. Durch die rosa Brille schauen
Meaning: To be optimistic
Literal Translation: To look through pink glasses
16. Gelb vor Neid
Meaning: To be envious
Literal Translation: Yellow with envy
17. Ach du grüne neune!
Meaning: Oh my god!
Literal Translation: Oh you green nine!
18. Du wirst dein blaues Wunder erleben
Meaning: You’ll get a bad surprise
Literal Translation: You’ll experience your blue wonder.
19. Das ist dasselbe in Grün
Meaning: It makes no difference
Literal Translation: That’s the same in green
20. Das ist graue Theorie
Meaning: That’s just pure theory
Literal Translation: That’s gray theory
