German word

silbern

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈzɪlbɐn/

Meaning

  • adjectivesilvery

Example

Er kauft einen silbernen Ring.

He is buying a silvery ring.

Illustration for silbern (silvery)

More examples

Sie feiern ihre silberne Hochzeit im kleinen Kreis.

They are celebrating their silver wedding anniversary with a small group.

Core concept

A cool metallic sheen like polished silver, whether it comes from the surface or from silver metal itself.

Common phrases

  • silbernes Haar

    silvery hair

  • silberne Hochzeit

    silver wedding anniversary

  • silberne Medaille

    silver medal

Similar words

silberfarben: Having the gray color and finish of silver, without implying silver metal.
silbrig: Showing delicate flashes of silver when struck by light.
versilbert: Covered with a thin layer of silver over another material.

Definition in German

Etwas als silberfarben kennzeichnet oder anzeigt, dass es aus Silber gefertigt ist; dekliniert nach Genus, Numerus und Kasus.

Word origin

Silbern is formed from the inherited Germanic noun Silber with the adjective-forming suffix -ern, expressing a relation to or resemblance to silver.

Usage tips

  • Silbern can describe appearance as well as material, so silberfarben is more explicit when only the color is meant.

Other meanings

  • silveradjective

Opposites

Related words

  • Silberhochzeitsilver wedding anniversarynoun
  • silbergrausilver-grayadjective

Word lists with this word