schwarz
/ʃvarts/
The English word 'black' is translated into German as schwarz.
The adjective schwarz is used to describe something that is the color black, such as absorbing all light. To describe something that is extremely dark or pitch black, you can use the emphatic term Pechschwarz. For describing people, you might use the adjective schwarzhaarig to say someone is 'black-haired' or the phrase mit schwarzen Haaren to say someone is 'with black hair'.
Meaning: absorbing all light (adj)
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between the adjective and the noun. The adjective schwarz is used to describe properties, such as a black car, while the capitalized noun Schwarz is used to refer to the color itself. Additionally, the word Schwarze can refer specifically to a black ball in games like billiards, snooker or pool.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using schwarz as an adjective before a noun, the ending changes based on the gender and case of that noun. For a masculine noun in the nominative case, use schwarzer. For a feminine or plural noun, use schwarze (as in eine schwarze). For a neuter noun in the nominative case, use schwarzes (as in ein schwarzes).
How do you pronounce it?
/ʃvarts/
Did you know?
- In German, the phrase Schwarzfahren literally means 'black driving' and refers to the act of riding public transport without a ticket.
- The English word 'swarthy', used to describe dark skin, shares the same ancient root as the German schwarz.
- The expression Schwarzgeld describes 'black money' or funds that are hidden from tax authorities and the government.
Examples in context
- Der Bär ist schwarz.The bear is black.This sentence uses schwarz to describe the color of a bear.Tatoeba #13488668 by Waldelfe, translation #5894557 by captcrouton
- Das Buch ist schwarz.The book is black.This sentence uses schwarz to describe the color of a book.Tatoeba #5318996 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #5256956 by solejar
- Der Hund ist schwarz.The dog is black.This sentence uses schwarz to describe the color of a dog.Tatoeba #6005483 by wolfgangth, translation #3958285 by senryakun
- Das Auto ist schwarz.The car is black.
- Die Tasche ist schwarz.The bag is black.
- Die Nacht war pechschwarz.The night was pitch black.
- Sie hat die Schwärze ihrer Haare verändert.She changed the blackness of her hair.
- das schwarze AutoThe black car
- der schwarze StiftThe black pen
- die schwarze JackeThe black jacket
- 692 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Sarah are looking at clothes in a shop.
- LukasDieses Kleid ist tiefschwarz.This dress is deep black.
- SarahEs sieht sehr elegant aus.It looks very elegant.
- LukasMagst du die Farbe schwarz?Do you like the color black?
- SarahJa, Schwarz passt zu allem.Yes, black goes with everything.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “black” translations and entries schwarz, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries schwarz, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
