das  Weiß

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/vaɪ̯s/

⚪ What exactly is "das Weiß"?

The noun das Weiß primarily has two meanings in German:

1. The color white: This is the most common meaning. It refers to the brightest color, the color of snow, milk, or chalk. It's the opposite of Schwarz (black).
   Example: Die Wände sind in einem reinen Weiß gestrichen. (The walls are painted a pure white.)
2. The white of an egg (Eiweiß/Eiklar): It refers to the clear, protein-rich part of an egg that becomes firm and white when cooked.
   Example: Zum Backen trenne ich Eigelb und Weiß. (For baking, I separate the yolk and the white.)

🚨 Attention: The adjective weiß (lowercase) describes something that has this color (e.g., ein weißes Auto - a white car). The noun das Weiß (capitalized) refers to the color itself or the egg white.

🧐 Grammar Spotlight: Das Weiß

Das Weiß is a noun of neuter gender (sächlich). It is mostly used in the singular, especially when referring to the color, as colors are often considered uncountable.

Declension Singular

Note: The plural (die Weiß) is very rare and typically only used when referring to different shades of white or multiple portions of egg white, which is uncommon.

💡 Example Sentences

• Nominative: Das Weiß der Wolken faszinierte sie. (The white of the clouds fascinated her.)
• Genitive: Die Analyse des Weißes ergab interessante Daten. (The analysis of the white yielded interesting data. - rare)
• Dative: Er fügte dem Teig nur das Weiß hinzu. (He only added the white [of the egg] to the dough.)
• Accusative: Sie liebte das Weiß in seiner reinsten Form. (She loved white in its purest form.)
• Egg white: Trenne bitte das Weiß vom Eigelb. (Please separate the white from the yolk.)

🎨 How to Use "das Weiß"

Das Weiß is used in various contexts:

• Color designation: When talking about the color itself. Example: Sie mischte etwas Blau in das Weiß. (She mixed some blue into the white.)
• Symbolism: White often represents purity, innocence, peace, or emptiness. Example: Die Braut trug traditionell Weiß. (The bride traditionally wore white.)
• Parts of things: Certain white areas are named this way.
  • Das Weiße im Auge: The white part of the eyeball (sclera). Example: Man konnte das Weiße in seinen Augen sehen, als er erschrak. (You could see the whites of his eyes when he got scared.)
  • Das Weiße vom Ei: See definition (egg white).
• Abstract concepts: Sometimes das Weiß is used metaphorically, e.g., for a blank state.

Unlike the adjective weiß (e.g., ein weißes Blatt - a white sheet of paper), das Weiß refers to the substance or concept of the color or the egg white.

🧠 Mnemonics for "das Weiß"

For the article "das": Think of *das Eiweiß* (egg white) – eggs often feel neutral, like *das Ei* (the egg). Or think of *das Licht* (the light) – light has no specific shape and feels neutral, like *das Weiß*, which reflects all colors.

For the meaning "color/egg white": Imagine cracking an egg (*das Eiweiß*) onto a white sheet of paper (*die Farbe Weiß*). Both things involve *das Weiß*.

↔️ Opposites and Similar Words

⚠️ Similar but Different Words

• weiß (adjective): Describes something that is white (ein weißes Hemd - a white shirt).
• weisen (verb): To show, to point (den Weg weisen - to show the way).
• weise (adjective): Wise (ein weiser Rat - a wise piece of advice).

😄 A Little Joke

DE: Warum tragen Gespenster keine farbigen Laken?
Weil sie Angst haben, Farbe zu bekennen!

EN: Why don't ghosts wear colored sheets?
Because they are afraid to show their true colors! (Literal: afraid to confess color)

(Okay, the joke plays more on the adjective "weiß" (white) and the idiom "Farbe bekennen", but ghosts are typically associated with "das Weiß"!)

✍️ A Poem About White

Das reine Weiß

Schnee auf dem Dach, so still und rein, (Snow on the roof, so still and pure,)
Milch in der Tasse, zart und fein. (Milk in the cup, delicate and fine.)
Das Weiß bedeckt die Welt so sacht, (The white covers the world so gently,)
hat Frieden und Klarheit über Nacht gebracht. (Has brought peace and clarity overnight.)

Im Auge blitzt es, hell und klar, (In the eye it flashes, bright and clear,)
als Eiweiß ist es wunderbar. (As egg white it is wonderful.)
Das Weiß, ein Anfang, unbeschrieben, (The white, a beginning, unwritten,)
hat viele Facetten, die wir lieben. (Has many facets that we love.)

❓ Little Riddle

DE: Ich bin die Abwesenheit von Farbe, doch strahle hell.
Ich bin im Schnee, in Wolken und im Ei ganz schnell.
Man sagt, ich steh' für Unschuld, rein und klar.
Was bin ich wohl, das ist doch sonnenklar?

EN: I am the absence of color, yet I shine bright.
I'm in the snow, in clouds, and in the egg quite right.
They say I stand for innocence, pure and clear.
What am I then, the answer's surely near?

... das Weiß (white)

ℹ️ Trivia

• Symbolism: In Western cultures, white often symbolizes purity, peace, weddings, and new beginnings. However, in some Eastern cultures, white is the color of mourning.
• Physics: White light contains all colors of the visible spectrum. A white surface reflects all wavelengths of light.
• Word Formation (Wortbildung): There are many compound German words with "Weiß", e.g., Weißwein (white wine), Weißbrot (white bread), Schneeweißchen (Snow White - fairy tale character, literally 'little snow white').