German word

Kulisse

Pronunciation

IPA/kuˈlɪsə/

Meaning

  • feminine nounstage set

Example

Die neuen Kulissen für das Theaterstück sind noch nicht fertig.

The new stage sets for the play are not finished yet.

Illustration for Kulisse (stage set)

More examples

Die öffentlichen Diskussionen sind oft nur Kulisse.

The public discussions are often just a facade.

Core concept

Curtains and side panels frame the visible stage, create its background, and conceal the activity behind it.

Common phrases

  • hinter den Kulissen

    behind the scenes

  • als Kulisse dienen

    serve as a backdrop

Similar words

Bühnenbild: The overall visual design and arrangement of a stage.
Requisite: A small object used by an actor during a performance.
Bühne: The area where actors stand and perform.
Hintergrund: The background or area behind an object or scene.

Definition in German

Ein Teil der Bühnenausstattung, meist Vorhänge oder seitliche Tafeln, die als Hintergrund dienen oder Szenen verbergen.

Word origin

German Kulisse was borrowed from French coulisse, originally a sliding side panel used in theatre, and later came to mean stage scenery and the hidden backstage side.

Usage tips

  • Kulisse is feminine, with the plural Kulissen, and hinter den Kulissen means behind the scenes in both literal and figurative contexts.

Other meanings

  • backgroundnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • kulissenhaftstageyadjective

Word lists with this word