Iris
/ˈiːʁɪs/feminine
The English word 'iris' (part of the eye) is translated into German as Iris or Regenbogenhaut.
Meaning: part of the eye (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Iris | /ˈiːʁɪs/ | feminine |
| Regenbogenhaut | /ˈʁeːɡn̩boːɡn̩ˌhaʊ̯t/ | feminine |
In German, the word refers to the colored part of the eye. It can also be used as a female given name or to refer to the Greek messenger of the gods.
Which one should you use?
Both are feminine nouns.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun Iris is feminine and takes the definite article die.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈiːʁɪs/
Did you know?
- The German term Regenbogenhaut literally translates to 'rainbow skin', a poetic way to describe the colored part of the eye.
- In German, the word Regenbogen for 'rainbow' is a masculine noun, but Regenbogenhaut is feminine because the gender of a compound noun is always determined by the last word.
- While English speakers use 'iris' to refer to the flower, Germans use the word Iris for both the eye part and the flower, though the flower is also called Schwertlilie.
Examples in context
- Die Iris gibt dem Auge seine Farbe.The iris gives the eye its color.This sentence demonstrates how the Iris contributes color to the eye.Tatoeba #12525061 by Yorwba, translation #4926616 by AlanF_US
- Iris, was isst du normalerweise zum Frühstück?Iris, what do you usually eat for breakfast?This sentence shows Iris being used as a female given name.Tatoeba #522507 by lilygilder, translation #71925 by CN
- Guten Tag, ich habe gehört, dass Sie im Projektteam von Iris arbeiten.Good day, I heard that you work in Iris' project team.
- Ja, das stimmt. Iris ist eine großartige Teamleiterin.Yes, that's correct. Iris is an excellent team leader.
- Klar, ich kenne Iris schon ewig! Das wird bestimmt eine tolle Feier.Sure, I've known Iris forever! It's going to be an amazing celebration.
- Die Iris ist bei ihr blau.The iris is blue in her eyes.
Example conversation
Julian and Laura are looking at a high-resolution photo of an eye.
- JulianSchau dir mal die Iris auf dem Foto an.Look at the iris in the photo.
- LauraSie ist wirklich sehr detailreich.It is really very detailed.
- JulianDie Farbe der Iris ist faszinierend.The color of the iris is fascinating.
- LauraJa, das stimmt.Yes, that is true.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “iris” translations and entries Iris, Regenbogenhaut, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
