German word

weißen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈvaɪ̯sn̩/

Meaning

  • verbpaint white

Example

Ich weiße die Wand.

I am painting the wall white.

Illustration for weißen (paint white)

More examples

Im Sommer weißen sie die Innenwände mit Kalk.

In summer, they paint the interior walls white with lime.

Core concept

A brush or chemical treatment leaves an object's visible surface white.

Common phrases

  • mit Kalk weißen

    paint white with lime

  • die Innenwand weißen

    paint the interior wall white

  • die Fassade weißen

    paint the facade white

Similar words

bleichen: Whiten fabric, paper, or similar material by removing its color with chemicals.
streichen: Paint a surface to give it a different color or finish.
anstreichen: Paint a wall or other broad surface white.

Definition in German

durch Streichen oder Bleichen die Farbe eines Gegenstands in Weiß verwandeln

Word origin

The verb is formed from the adjective "weiß" with the verb-forming ending "-en" and ultimately goes back to Old High German "wīz".

Usage tips

  • For a wall, "die Wand weißen" is idiomatic, whereas "bleichen" more often refers to materials such as fabric or hair.

Other meanings

  • whitewashverb

Opposites

  • schwärzenblackenverb

Related words

  • geweißtpainted whiteadjective

Word lists with this word