das  Gesicht

A1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ɡəˈzɪçt/

🧐 What does "das Gesicht" mean?

Das Gesicht (noun, neuter) primarily refers to the front part of the human head, from the forehead to the chin. It includes the eyes, nose, mouth, cheeks, and chin.

However, it can have other meanings:

• Facial expression/Mien: The way someone looks, often expressing an emotion. Example: Sie machte ein trauriges Gesicht. (She made a sad face.)
• Appearance/Look: The appearance of a thing or place. Example: Die Stadt hat ihr Gesicht verändert. (The city has changed its face/appearance.)
• (Figurative) Reputation/Image: In expressions like "sein Gesicht wahren" (to save face) or "sein Gesicht verlieren" (to lose face). Example: Er versuchte, trotz des Fehlers sein Gesicht zu wahren. (He tried to save face despite the mistake.)
• (Rare) Vision/Apparition: In older language or in the context of visions. Example: Er hatte ein seltsames Gesicht in seinem Traum. (He had a strange vision/face in his dream.)

🚨 Attention: The meaning often depends on the context!

Article rules for der, die, and das

📝 Grammar in Detail: das Gesicht

"Gesicht" is a neuter noun. The article is das. The plural form is die Gesichter.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

💡 Example Sentences

• Nominative: Das Gesicht des Kindes strahlte vor Freude. (The child's face beamed with joy.)
• Genitive: Die Farbe des Gesichts verriet seine Müdigkeit. (The color of the face revealed his tiredness.)
• Dative: Ich schaute dem Gesicht direkt in die Augen. (I looked the face directly in the eyes. / More natural: I looked him/her directly in the face - Ich schaute ihm/ihr direkt ins Gesicht.)
• Accusative: Sie wusch sich das Gesicht. (She washed her face.)
• Plural: Die vielen Gesichter in der Menge waren schwer zu unterscheiden. (The many faces in the crowd were hard to distinguish.)

💬 How to use "das Gesicht"?

"Das Gesicht" is a very common word. Here are some typical contexts:

• Literal meaning (body part): Talking about appearance, washing, applying makeup, facial injuries. Example: Er hat ein freundliches Gesicht. (He has a friendly face.) Sie hat sich im Gesicht verletzt. (She injured her face.)
• Facial expressions & emotions: Describing expressions. Example: ein böses Gesicht machen (to make an angry face), ein langes Gesicht ziehen (to pull a long face / be disappointed), ein überraschtes Gesicht (a surprised face).
• Figurative phrases:
  • Gesicht zeigen: To show one's face, take a public stance, show courage.
  • Sein Gesicht wahren: To save face (protect one's reputation).
  • Sein Gesicht verlieren: To lose face (lose reputation).
  • Jemandem ins Gesicht lügen/sagen: To lie/say something unpleasant directly to someone's face (often implies boldness or impudence).
  • Zwei Gesichter haben: To be two-faced, hypocritical.
• Appearance of places/things: Less common, but possible. Example: Das Gesicht der Innenstadt hat sich durch die neuen Bauten verändert. (The face/appearance of the city center has changed due to the new buildings.)

Comparison: While "Gesicht" is the neutral standard term, "Antlitz" is more poetic/elevated, and "Visage" is more colloquial and often derogatory.

🧠 Mnemonics for "das Gesicht"

Article (das)

Think of something neutral: a mask is often neutral before being painted, and it covers das Gesicht. Or associate it with other central, singular body parts that are neuter in German: das Herz (heart), das Hirn (brain), das Gesicht.

Meaning (Face)

The word Gesicht contains "Sicht" (sight, view). Your face is what people primarily see of you, your main "view". You use your eyes (part of das Gesicht) for sight.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words

• Gesichtspunkt: (der) - Point of view, aspect. Nothing to do with the face!
• Sicht: (die) - View, sight, perspective. It's part of the word "Gesicht" but distinct.

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt der Lehrer: "Fritzchen, warum ziehst du im Unterricht immer so ein langes Gesicht?"
Antwortet Fritzchen: "Damit die Zeit schneller vergeht!"

Translation:

The teacher asks: "Fritzchen, why do you always pull such a long face (look so glum) in class?"
Fritzchen answers: "So that time passes faster!" (Pun: a long face vs. making time seem longer/shorter)

📜 Poem about the Face

Ein jedes Gesicht erzählt leis',
Von Freude, Kummer, heiß und weiß.
Zwei Augen blicken in die Welt,
Ein Lächeln, das die Seele erhellt.
Die Stirn vielleicht voll Sorgenzüge,
Die Nase schnuppert Luft im Fluge.
Ein Ausdruck, der sich ständig wandelt,
Im Buch des Lebens, das da handelt.

Translation:

Every face softly tells,
Of joy, sorrow, hot and pale.
Two eyes gaze into the world,
A smile that lights up the soul.
The brow perhaps full of worry lines,
The nose sniffs air as it flies.
An expression ever-changing,
In the book of life, it's arranging.

🧩 Riddle

Ich habe Augen, doch kann nicht sehen.
Ich habe einen Mund, doch kann nicht sprechen.
Ich zeige Freude, zeige Schmerz,
Bin Spiegel deiner Seele, deines Herz'.

Was bin ich?

Translation:

I have eyes, but cannot see.
I have a mouth, but cannot speak.
I show joy, I show pain,
Am a mirror of your soul, your heart's domain.

What am I?

Solution: das Gesicht (the face)

💡 Other Information

Word Composition:

The word "Gesicht" is composed of the prefix "Ge-" and the word "Sicht" (sight, view). The prefix "Ge-" was often used historically to form collective nouns or to denote a result. Here, it might originally have meant "that which is seen" or "the entire sight/appearance".

Trivia:

• The expression "das zweite Gesicht haben" (to have the second face) means to possess clairvoyant abilities (second sight).
• In geology, one sometimes speaks of the "Gesicht" of a rock formation to describe its outward-facing side or aspect.