graue Haare
The English phrase "gray hair" is graue Haare in German.
graue Haare is used to describe hair that has lost its natural color and become gray or white, usually due to aging.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, graue Haare translates to "gray hairs" in English.
Which one should you use?
The phrase graue Haare uses the plural form of 'Haar' (hair), which is the standard way to express having gray hair in German, whereas English often uses the uncountable singular 'hair'. You may also encounter silberne Haare, which specifically refers to "silver hair" and is used to describe someone with gray hair in a positive way.
How does it change in a sentence?
While graue Haare (plural) is the most common way to refer to the phenomenon, the singular form graues Haar can be used to refer to gray hair as a collective mass or concept.
Did you know?
- The German expression jemandem graue Haare wachsen lassen does not describe aging, but means to cause someone extreme stress or worry.
- The verb ergraut is used in poetic contexts to describe the process of turning gray, framing it as a dignified transition rather than just a loss of color.
- In older German literature, having graue Haare was often a linguistic shorthand for 'wisdom' or 'experience' rather than just a physical sign of decay.
Examples in context
- Hat er graue Haare?Does he have gray hair?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has graue Haare.Tatoeba #2506114 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2505857 by Hybrid
- Ich habe graue Haare.I have gray hair.This sentence is useful for stating that you have graue Haare.Tatoeba #7904069 by Luiaard, translation #4500153 by CK
- Sie hat viele graue Haare.She has a lot of gray hair.This sentence is useful for describing someone who has many graue Haare.Tatoeba #2357682 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2259126 by _undertoad
- Meine Großmutter hat bereits graue Haare, aber sie sieht immer noch wunderschön aus.My grandmother already has gray hair, but she still looks beautiful.
- Ich habe ein paar graue Strähnen, aber das macht mich nur charmanter, oder?I have a few gray strands, but that just makes me more charming, right?
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas is looking in a mirror while Hannah talks to him.
- HannahHast du plötzlich graue Haare?Do you suddenly have gray hair?
- LukasJa, ich habe ein paar graue Haare.Yes, I have a few gray hairs.
- HannahDas sieht aber gar nicht schlecht aus.But that doesn't look bad at all.
- LukasDanke, Hannah.Thanks, Hannah.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
