scheinen
/ˈʃaɪnən/
The English phrase 'to shine' is translated into German as scheinen. Wiktionary also lists leuchten.
Meaning: to emit light (verb)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| scheinen | /ˈʃaɪnən/ (Germany) /ˈʃaɪnɛn/ |
| leuchten | [ˈlɔʏ̯ç.tn̩] (narrow) |
Which one should you use?
There are two primary verbs for 'to shine': leuchten and scheinen. Use leuchten for objects that emit their own light, such as stars, candles or LEDs. When using nouns related to brightness, the choice depends on the source: Schein refers to the light emitted or the general appearance and glow of a light source, while Glanz refers to the shining or gleaming quality of an object's surface, such as the luster on polished metal or a gemstone.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʃaɪnən/
Did you know?
- The word Schein can mean 'light' or 'glow' but it is also the common German word for a 'certificate' or 'ticket'.
- The German verb scheinen has a second meaning that is completely unrelated to light: it is used to mean 'to seem' or 'to appear'.
- The word Glanz refers to luster and is used in the expression im Glanz stehen, meaning to be the center of attention.
Examples in context
- Warum leuchten die Sterne?Why do the stars shine?This sentence is useful for asking why the stars leuchten.Tatoeba #12203352 by mhr, translation #12203713 by Miktsoanit
- Die Sonne wird auch für uns scheinen.The sun will also shine for us.This sentence shows how the sun will scheinen.Tatoeba #10548036 by pitti42, translation #1486508 by niceguydave
- In den Fenstern leuchten Adventskerzen.Advent candles shine in the windows.This sentence is useful for describing how candles leuchten in windows.Tatoeba #2199247 by freddy1, translation #9476328 by sundown
- Der Diamant hat einen wunderschönen GlanzThe diamond has a beautiful shine
- Der Schein der Sonne erfreute die MenschenThe shine of the sun delighted people
- Die Sterne leuchten am NachthimmelThe stars shine in the night sky
- Die Sonne strahlt heute besonders hellThe sun is shining particularly brightly today
- Die Sonne scheint heute hell am Himmel.The sun is shining brightly in the sky today.
- Sein neues Auto strahlt einen wundervollen Glanz aus.His new car radiates a wonderful shine.
- Die Augen des Mädchens leuchteten vor Freude.The girl's eyes shone with happiness.
- Der Mond scheint in der dunklen Nacht.The moon is shining in the dark night.
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felix and Julia are looking at the night sky.
- FelixSieh mal, wie der Mond heute scheint!Look how the moon is shining today!
- JuliaJa, es ist wirklich hell draußen.Yes, it is really bright outside.
- FelixIch glaube, die Sterne scheinen auch.I think the stars are shining too.
- JuliaDas stimmt, Julia sieht sie jetzt auch.That's true, Julia sees them now too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shine” translations and entries scheinen, leuchten, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
