German word

Ästhetik

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛsˈteːtɪk/

Meaning

  • feminine nounaesthetics

Example

Die Ästhetik dieses Gemäldes ist beeindruckend.

The aesthetics of this painting are impressive.

Illustration for Ästhetik (aesthetics)

More examples

Die Ästhetik eines Films beeinflusst die Inszenierung.

The aesthetics of a film influence the staging.

Core concept

A painting's colors, shapes, and arrangement form a coherent visual character that invites a judgment of beauty.

Common phrases

  • die Ästhetik eines Films

    the aesthetics of a film

  • die Ästhetik des Körpers

    the aesthetics of the body

  • minimalistische Ästhetik

    minimalist aesthetics

Similar words

Schönheit: The quality of being pleasing to the eye or the senses.
Geschmack: An individual or society's sense of what is beautiful and appealing.
Stil: A consistent way of presenting or creating a work.
Design: Planned shaping of a product's function and appearance.

Definition in German

Bezeichnung für das Empfinden von Schönheit und die Prinzipien des Geschmacks.

Word origin

Ästhetik is a learned borrowing from French esthétique, ultimately based on Greek aisthētikos, 'perceptive', from aisthanesthai, 'to perceive'.

Usage tips

  • German uses the feminine singular die Ästhetik, while English often uses plural aesthetics for the field; German plural Ästhetiken is possible for distinct systems or styles.

Other meanings

  • aesthetic sensenoun

Opposites

  • Sachlichkeitobjectivitynoun
  • Kitschkitschnoun

Related words

  • ästhetischaestheticadjective
  • Ästhetikeraestheticiannoun
  • Ästhetikverständnisunderstanding of aestheticsnoun

Word lists with this word