Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| golden | /ˈɡɔl.dən/ | |
| gülden | /ɡʏldən/ | archaic |
The term is used to describe something that is golden in color or made of gold. It can also be used metaphorically to describe something of high quality or value, such as a 'golden age'. For symbolic uses, such as referring to a person or thing of great value or specifically referring to a 'bullseye', the related noun Gold is used.
Which one should you use?
While golden is used for qualitative or metaphorical descriptions like a 'golden age', the word gold is used when specifically referring to the material composition of an object.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form gülden is an archaic or poetic version of golden and is not used in everyday modern German.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, golden changes its ending depending on the gender and case of the noun it precedes. For a feminine noun in the nominative or accusative case, use the ending -e, such as goldene. For a neuter noun in the nominative or accusative case, use the ending -es, such as goldenes.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈɡɔl.dən/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The archaic form gülden is the direct ancestor of the gulden, a gold coin once used in the Netherlands and other parts of Europe.
- The form gülden is still encountered today in classical German poetry and opera to evoke a sense of timelessness or nobility.
Examples in context
- Er hat ein goldenes Herz.He has a heart of gold.This sentence demonstrates the use of the neuter form golden with a metaphorical heart.Tatoeba #2220236 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2217665 by Hybrid
- Siehst du die goldene Kette?Do you see the gold chain?This sentence shows how to use the feminine form golden when asking about a chain.Tatoeba #2162295 by Vortarulo, translation #13633233 by araneo
- Sie trägt eine goldene Halskette.She's wearing a gold necklace.This sentence shows the feminine form golden used to describe a necklace.Tatoeba #10103449 by Melang, translation #12114777 by sundown
- Ich habe gestern einen schönen goldenen Ring gekauft.I bought a beautiful golden ring yesterday.
- 31 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hannah and Lukas are looking at jewelry in a shop window.
- HannahSchau mal, der golden Ring ist wunderschön!Look, that golden ring is beautiful!
- LukasJa, aber er ist bestimmt sehr teuer.Yes, but it is certainly very expensive.
- HannahIch finde das goldene Design sehr elegant.I find the golden design very elegant.
- LukasDas stimmt, Lukas findet das auch toll.That's true, Lukas thinks it's great too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gold” translations and entries golden, gülden, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries golden, gülden, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
