A comprehensive overview of how to use German color vocabulary in the context of clothing, including word order, grammar, and example sentences.
Understanding how to describe clothing by color in German involves more than just knowing the color words. You also need to know how to use them with clothing nouns, including the correct word order and adjective endings.
In German, the color is an adjective that describes the clothing item. The adjective changes its ending based on the gender, number, and case of the noun it describes.
What information do you need to know to choose the correct ending for a color adjective in German?
The article type, noun gender/number, and grammatical case.
Choosing the correct adjective ending in German depends on three factors: the article (definite, indefinite, none), the noun's gender and number, and the grammatical case (e.g., nominative).
The order is always: [color adjective] + [clothing noun]. For example:
- ein rotes Kleid (a red dress)
- blaue Jeans (blue jeans)
The ending of the color adjective depends on:
- The article (definite, indefinite, or none)
- The gender (der, die, das) and number (singular/plural)
- The case (nominative, accusative, etc.)
Here we’ll focus on the nominative case (used for the subject of a sentence).
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Das ist ein rotes Kleid. | That is a red dress. |
| Ich habe blaue Jeans. | I have blue jeans. |
| Er trägt einen schwarzen Hut. | He is wearing a black hat. |
| Sie hat eine weiße Bluse. | She has a white blouse. |
| Wir kaufen grüne Jacken. | We are buying green jackets. |
In German, color adjectives come before the clothing noun and take an ending that matches the noun’s gender, number, and case. Most everyday clothing color descriptions are in the nominative case (subject form), but the rules apply to other cases too.
What is the basic rule for using color adjectives with clothing nouns in German?
Color adjectives come before the noun and take endings based on gender, number, article, and case.
The correct rule is that color adjectives precede the noun and must have the appropriate ending according to the noun’s gender, number, article, and grammatical case.
Flashcards (1 of 5)
- English: That is a red dress.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
