Gemälde
/ɡəˈmɛːldə/neuter
In German, the word for painting is Gemälde.
Gemälde refers to an illustration or artwork made using paint.
Meaning: an illustration or artwork using paint (noun)
Which one should you use?
Use Gemälde specifically for a finished piece of artwork. This differs from Malerei, which refers to the art of painting or the medium itself. Additionally, while Gemälde refers specifically to a painting, the more general word Bild can refer to any picture, such as a photograph or a drawing.
How does it change in a sentence?
The neuter noun Gemälde is used for both singular and plural forms. The word does not change when you are referring to multiple paintings.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡəˈmɛːldə/
Did you know?
- In German, the word Bild is used for a computer monitor or a TV 'screen', even though it translates to 'picture'. A person might say the 'picture' is flickering when they actually mean the hardware display.
- While Gemälde is the correct term for a painting, Germans use the verb malen for both painting with a brush and drawing with colored pencils.
- The word Gemälde is formed by combining a prefix and a suffix with the verb malen, which means 'to paint'. This structure creates a noun that specifically denotes the finished result of the action.
Examples in context
- Das ist mein Gemälde.This is my painting.This sentence shows how to use Gemälde to indicate ownership.Tatoeba #12537908 by nexx, translation #1898104 by CK
- Wie alt ist das Gemälde?How old is that painting?This sentence shows how to use Gemälde when asking about its age.Tatoeba #832941 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #436247 by lukaszpp
- Er starrte das Gemälde an.He stared at the painting.This sentence shows how to use Gemälde to describe someone looking at the artwork.Tatoeba #12112720 by mhr, translation #12142915 by sundown
- Das Gemälde im Museum ist wunderschön.The painting in the museum is beautiful.
- Hast du das Bild von Picasso gesehen?Have you seen Picasso's painting?
- 86 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Laura are looking at art in a gallery.
- MaximilianDieses Gemälde ist wirklich beeindruckend.This painting is truly impressive.
- LauraJa, die Farben in dem Gemälde sind toll.Yes, the colors in the painting are great.
- MaximilianGlaubst du, das Gemälde ist sehr teuer?Do you think the painting is very expensive?
- LauraDas ist bei diesem Künstler wahrscheinlich.That is likely with this artist.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “painting” translations and entries Gemälde, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Gemälde, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
