Weiß
[vaɪs]
The English word 'white' is translated to German as Weiß.
Weiß is the noun for the color white. To describe something as being completely white, you can use the word ganz before the adjective, as in ganz weiß. In some formal contexts, the word hell may be used to describe a shade that is light or pale, close to white. The adjective weiß (also spelled weiss or wiiss) is the most common and straightforward way to translate 'white' when describing things as bright and colourless or when referring to Caucasians.
Meaning: color (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the adjective to describe a noun, the form changes based on the noun's gender and case. For a neuter noun in the nominative or accusative case, add the ending -es, such as in weißes Papier (white paper). For a masculine noun in the accusative case, the form changes to weißen, as in den weißen Tisch (the white table).
Did you know?
- In German, the word weiß is also the first person singular present form of the verb wissen, which means 'to know'. A sentence like Ich weiß can mean both 'I am white' and 'I know'.
- The phrase weiß wie eine Wand is used to describe someone who has turned pale from fear or shock. It translates literally as 'white as a wall'.
- The German word weiß shares a common ancestor with the English word 'white', originating from the Proto-Indo-European root *ḱweytos, which meant 'bright' or 'shine'.
Examples in context
- Es ist sehr weiß.It's very white.Tatoeba #6645025 by Felixjp, translation #2249381 by CK
- Das Buch ist weiß.The book is white.Tatoeba #626256 by kolonjano, translation #697211 by rpglover64
- Der Reis ist weiß.The rice is white.Tatoeba #8320508 by MisterTrouser, translation #12785409 by rul
- Ein ganz weißes HausA completely white house
- Der weiße SchwanThe white swan
- Die weißen BlumenThe white flowers
- Er trägt ein weißes HemdHe is wearing a white shirt
- 668 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Maximilian are looking at a new paint sample for the living room.
- JuliaIst dieses Weiß zu hell für dich?Is this white too bright for you?
- MaximilianNein, das Weiß gefällt mir sehr gut.No, I like the white very much.
- JuliaSoll ich die Farbe dann kaufen?Should I buy the color then?
- MaximilianJa, das machen wir.Yes, let's do that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “white” translations and entries Weiß, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Weiß, weiß, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
