German word

blau

Pronunciation

IPA/blaʊ̯/

Meaning

  • adjectiveblue

Example

Die blauen Schuhe passen gut.

The blue shoes fit well.

Illustration for blau (blue)

More examples

Der blaue Himmel ist heute klar.

The blue sky is clear today.

Core concept

A clear blue shade like the sky or sea, also used colloquially for someone made unsteady by alcohol.

Common phrases

  • blaues Hemd

    blue shirt

  • blaue Augen

    blue eyes

  • blauer Himmel

    blue sky

Similar words

hellblau: Having a light, pale shade of blue.
dunkelblau: Having a dark, deep shade of blue.
betrunken: Affected by alcohol and no longer sober.
türkis: Having a blue-green color like turquoise.

Definition in German

Eine Farbe, die an den klaren Himmel oder das Meer erinnert.

Word origin

German blau comes through Old High German blāo from Proto-Germanic *blēwaz and later acquired the colloquial sense "drunk".

Usage tips

  • In "Die blauen Schuhe," blau has the plural ending -en after the definite article, while the predicate form in "Die Schuhe sind blau" has no ending.

Other meanings

  • drunkadjective

Related words

  • das Blaubluenoun

Word lists with this word