das  Schwarz

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ʃvaʁts/

🎨 What does 'das Schwarz' mean?

The noun 'das Schwarz' refers to the color black itself or to blackness/darkness. It is the nominalized form of the adjective schwarz (black).

It's often used to describe the concept of the color or an area of that color. It's also found in fixed expressions.

• The color black: Das tiefe Schwarz des Nachthimmels faszinierte ihn. (The deep black of the night sky fascinated him.)
• Fixed expressions: Er traf genau ins Schwarze. (He hit the bullseye / He was spot on.)
• In the context of print or writing: Ich hätte es gern schwarz auf weiß. (I'd like to have it in black and white / in writing.)

⚠️ Attention: Do not confuse it with the adjective schwarz (e.g., ein schwarzes Auto - a black car).

🧐 Grammar Guide for 'das Schwarz'

'Das Schwarz' is a neuter noun. It's mostly used without an article or with the definite article 'das'. It is generally an uncountable noun when referring to the color or the concept of darkness. Therefore, it is mostly used only in the singular.

Singular Declension:

Note: The genitive and dative forms ending in '-es' or '-e' (Schwarzes, Schwarze) are possible but less common and often sound more formal or archaic.

Plural:

A plural form ('die Schwarze') technically exists but is very rare and usually refers to specific black things (e.g., black keys on a piano, or figuratively 'schwarze Zahlen' - being in the black/profitable in accounting, although 'schwarze Zahlen' is typically used as a fixed phrase). In the general sense of color or darkness, there is no plural.

📝 Example Sentences

• Das Schwarz steht dir gut. (The color black suits you well.)
• Er fürchtete sich vor dem undurchdringlichen Schwarz des Waldes. (He was afraid of the impenetrable blackness of the forest.)
• Beim Drucken fehlte das Schwarz. (The black ink was missing during printing.)
• Er hat ins Schwarze getroffen mit seiner Bemerkung. (Idiom: He hit the nail on the head with his remark.)

💡 Usage in Context

'Das Schwarz' is mainly used in the following contexts:

• As the concept of color: When talking about the color black as an abstract idea. Example: Schwarz gilt oft als elegant. (Black is often considered elegant.)
• In art and design: To name the color itself. Example: Der Maler verwendete viel Schwarz in diesem Bild. (The painter used a lot of black in this picture.)
• In fixed idioms: As mentioned, several idioms use 'das Schwarz'.
  • ins Schwarze treffen: to hit the bullseye, to be spot on.
  • schwarz auf weiß haben: to have something confirmed in writing.
  • das schwarze Schaf sein: to be the black sheep (Note: here 'schwarz' is an adjective, but the idiom is thematically related).
  • schwarz sehen: to be pessimistic (Also uses the adjective).
  • vom Schwarzen Brett nehmen: to get information from a public notice board.
• Distinction from the adjective: 'das Schwarz' is the noun (the color), while 'schwarz' is the adjective (how something is). Compare: Ich mag das Schwarz (I like the color black). vs. Ich mag schwarze Kleidung (I like black clothes).

🧠 Memory Aids

Here are a couple of mnemonics for 'das Schwarz':

• For the article 'das': Imagine 'daS Sun' disappears into 'das Schwarz'. The 'S' sound links 'das' and 'Schwarz'. Or think of 'das Space' - it's mostly black.
• For the meaning 'the color black': Think of 'schwarz' sounding a bit like 'swartz' or 'warts'. Imagine black warts – 'das Schwarz' is the blackness itself. Or picture needing 'das Schwarz' paint from a tube.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

😂 A Little Joke

German: Warum tragen Gespenster keine schwarzen Umhänge?
Weil sie Angst haben, im Dunkeln zu verschwinden und nur noch 'das Schwarz' übrig bleibt!

English Translation: Why don't ghosts wear black capes?
Because they're afraid of disappearing in the dark, leaving only 'das Schwarz' (the blackness) behind!

✒️ Poem about Black

German:
Das Schwarz, so tief, geheimnisvoll,
Mal elegant, mal schattentoll.
Es hüllt die Nacht in seinen Schein,
Lässt Sterne heller funkeln, fein.
Auf weißem Blatt ein starker Strich,
Im Kontrast zeigt es deutlich sich.

English Translation:
The Black, so deep, mysterious,
Sometimes elegant, sometimes full of shadows.
It wraps the night in its appearance,
Lets stars sparkle brighter, finely.
On a white sheet, a strong stroke,
In contrast, it shows itself clearly.

❓ Riddle Time

German:
Ich bin keine Farbe, sagen manche,
doch kleide die Nacht und manche Branche.
Auf dem Papier steh' ich für Schrift,
im Auge treff' ich oft mit Gift (wenn man ins Schwarze trifft!).

Was bin ich?

English Translation:
I am no color, some people say,
yet I clothe the night and many a trade's way.
On paper, I stand for script,
In the target's eye, I'm often the hit (hitting the bullseye!).

What am I?

Solution: das Schwarz (the black / blackness)

🌐 More Interesting Facts

• Symbolism: Schwarz (black) has very different cultural interpretations. In Western cultures, it often stands for mourning, death, evil, but also for elegance, seriousness, and power.
• Word Components: The word 'Schwarz' is part of many compound words in German, e.g.:
  • Schwarzwald: Black Forest (a mountain range).
  • Schwarzbrot: Black bread (dark rye bread).
  • Schwarzmarkt: Black market (illegal trade).
  • Schwarzfahrer: Fare dodger.
  • Schwarzarbeit: Undeclared work (illegal employment without taxes/contributions).
• Physics: In physics, black is the absence of visible light or the complete absorption of light.