das
Pixel
💡 What exactly is a Pixel?
Das Pixel (plural: die Pixel) is the smallest controllable element of a picture represented on a screen or in a digital raster graphic. You can think of it as a tiny dot that can display a specific color. Millions of these dots together form an image.
The term comes from English and is a portmanteau of "picture element". In German, the word is neuter, so it's always das Pixel.
- Meaning: Smallest dot of a digital image or display.
- Article: das (neuter)
- Origin: English ("picture element")
Article rules for der, die, and das
Many foreign words → mostly neutral.
There are many foreign words, we won't list them all.
🧐 Grammar of 'das Pixel' in Detail
The word "Pixel" is a neuter noun in German. It follows the strong declension pattern.
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | das | Pixel |
| Genitive (Whose?) | des | Pixels |
| Dative (To/for whom?) | dem | Pixel |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | das | Pixel |
Declension Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | die | Pixel |
| Genitive (Whose?) | der | Pixel |
| Dative (To/for whom?) | den | Pixeln |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | die | Pixel |
📝 Example Sentences
- Der Bildschirm hat eine Auflösung von 1920 mal 1080 Pixeln.
(The screen has a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels.) - Ein einzelnes defektes Pixel auf dem Monitor stört mich sehr.
(A single defective pixel on the monitor bothers me a lot.) - Die Qualität des Pixels bestimmt die Schärfe des Bildes.
(The quality of the pixel determines the sharpness of the image.) - Digitalkameras werden oft nach der Anzahl ihrer Megapixel bewertet.
(Digital cameras are often rated by their megapixel count.)
🖥️ When and how to use 'Pixel'?
The term das Pixel is mainly used in the context of digital technology:
- Screens & Displays: To describe the resolution (e.g., "Full HD hat 1920x1080 Pixel" - Full HD has 1920x1080 pixels).
- Digital Images & Graphics: To state the image size or quality (e.g., "Das Foto hat 12 Megapixel" - The photo has 12 megapixels).
- Image Editing: When zooming into images, individual pixels become visible ("verpixeltes Bild" - pixelated image).
- Cameras: Sensor resolution is often given in megapixels (millions of pixels).
It's a technical term from computer science and digital imaging. In everyday language, it's often mentioned in relation to photo quality or screen sharpness. Remember it's always das Pixel.
🧠 Mnemonics for 'das Pixel'
Article Mnemonic: The word ends in '-el' and comes from English, like many technical terms. Think of "das Kabel" (the cable), "das Panel" (the panel) – many loanwords ending in '-el' are neuter. So: das Pixel. Or: The little, neutral element is das Pixel.
Meaning Mnemonic: Just imagine a picture made up of many tiny elements. Pic-el = Pixel.
↔️ Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Bildpunkt: (Literally 'image point') A very common German equivalent.
- Bildschirmpunkt: (Literally 'screen point') Emphasizes the display on a screen.
- Punkt: (Point/dot) Often sufficient in context if it's clear a pixel is meant.
Antonyms (Opposites)
There isn't a direct antonym. However, conceptually you could contrast it with:
⚠️ Similar but Different Terms
- Voxel: Stands for "Volume Pixel" and refers to the smallest point in a three-dimensional grid (e.g., in CT scans). It's das Voxel in German.
😄 A little Pixel Joke
Frage: Warum ging der Programmierer zum Augenarzt?
Antwort: Weil er zu viele Pixel verloren hatte und alles unscharf sah!
Translation:
Question: Why did the programmer go to the eye doctor?
Answer: Because he had lost too many pixels and saw everything blurry!
✒️ A Poem about Pixels
Ein Punkt allein, ganz unscheinbar,
Doch tausendfach wird's wunderbar.
Das Pixel, klein, in Reih und Glied,
Zeichnet die Welt im Farbenlied.
Auf Schirm und Foto, hell und klar,
Macht es die digitale Welt uns wahr.
Translation:
A dot alone, quite inconspicuous,
But thousandfold it becomes wonderful.
The pixel, small, in rank and file,
Draws the world in a song of color.
On screen and photo, bright and clear,
It makes the digital world real for us.
❓ Pixel Riddle
Ich bin ein Punkt, doch form' die Welt im Licht,
Ein Teil vom Ganzen, zeig' dir jedes Gesicht.
Auf deinem Schirm, millionenfach präsent,
Ohne mich wär' dein Bild nur transparent.
Was bin ich?
(Auflösung / Answer: das Pixel)
Translation:
I am a dot, yet shape the world in light,
A part of the whole, I show you every sight (lit. face).
On your screen, present millions of times,
Without me, your picture would only be transparent lines.
What am I?
(Answer: the pixel)
ℹ️ Additional Info about the Pixel
Compound Words (Wortzusammensetzungen)
The word "Pixel" forms many compound nouns in technology:
- Pixelgrafik: (Pixel graphics) Graphics composed of individual pixels (opposite: Vektorgrafik).
- Pixeldichte: (Pixel density) The number of pixels per unit area (often ppi - pixels per inch).
- Megapixel: One million pixels (unit for camera resolution).
- Subpixel: The even smaller red, green, and blue dots that blend to create a single pixel's color.
- Pixel-Art: A digital art style that intentionally emphasizes the blocky nature of pixels.
- Pixelfehler: (Pixel error/defect) A pixel on a display that doesn't function correctly (e.g., always on or always off).
Etymology
As mentioned, "Pixel" is an English portmanteau of picture and element, coined in the 1960s. It's used with das in German.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Pixel?
The noun "Pixel" is neuter in German. Therefore, the correct article is always das Pixel. The plural form is die Pixel.