der
Anstrich
🎨 What does "der Anstrich" mean?
The word der Anstrich has two main meanings:
- A coat of paint or varnish: This is the most common meaning, referring to the act or result of applying paint to a surface, such as a wall, piece of furniture, or other object. Example: Die Wand braucht einen neuen Anstrich. (The wall needs a new coat of paint.)
- The outward appearance or impression: This meaning is more figurative and describes how something or someone appears on the outside, often superficially or deceptively. Example: Er gab sich den Anstrich eines Experten, war es aber nicht. (He gave himself the appearance/air of an expert, but wasn't one.)
⚠️ It's important to consider the context to understand the correct meaning.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ich → mostly masculine.
🧐 Grammar of "der Anstrich" in Detail
Der Anstrich is a masculine noun. Here is its declension:
| Case | Article | Noun | (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Anstrich | (the coat/appearance) |
| Genitive | des | Anstrich(e)s | (of the coat/appearance) |
| Dative | dem | Anstrich(e) | (to/for the coat/appearance) |
| Accusative | den | Anstrich | (the coat/appearance) |
| Case | Article | Noun | (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Anstriche | (the coats/appearances) |
| Genitive | der | Anstriche | (of the coats/appearances) |
| Dative | den | Anstrichen | (to/for the coats/appearances) |
| Accusative | die | Anstriche | (the coats/appearances) |
Example Sentences
- Der frische Anstrich lässt das Zimmer heller wirken. (The fresh coat of paint makes the room look brighter.) - Meaning 1: coat of paint
- Unter dem Anstrich der Freundlichkeit verbarg sich Neid. (Beneath the veneer/appearance of friendliness hid envy.) - Meaning 2: appearance
- Wir benötigen mehrere Anstriche, um die alte Farbe zu überdecken. (We need several coats of paint to cover the old colour.) - Plural, Meaning 1
- Er versuchte, sich einen seriösen Anstrich zu geben. (He tried to give himself a respectable appearance/air.) - Meaning 2
🖌️ How to use "der Anstrich"?
Context-dependent usage:
- Literal: When talking about painting, renovating, or varnishing, der Anstrich refers to the applied layer of paint. You might talk about a "neuer Anstrich" (new coat), an "erster Anstrich" (first coat), or "mehrere Anstriche" (several coats).
- Figurative: This refers to the outward impression, the facade, or the semblance. One can "sich einen Anstrich geben" (give oneself an air/appearance), e.g., a scientific air (einen wissenschaftlichen Anstrich), a modern look (einen modernen Anstrich). It often implies that this impression isn't entirely genuine or is superficial.
Distinction from similar words:
- Die Farbe: Refers to the material (the substance in the can) or the hue itself. Der Anstrich is the result of applying the Farbe.
- Der Lack: A specific type of coating, often glossy and protective (varnish, lacquer). Der Anstrich can be done with Lack.
- Der Schein: Similar to the figurative meaning, but often more strongly related to deception or illusion. Der Anstrich can be part of the Schein.
🧠 Mnemonics for "der Anstrich"
Remembering the article: Think of the painter (der Maler). Der Maler applies den Anstrich. Both words feel like they relate to '-er' endings, and both are masculine.
Remembering the meaning: Anstrich sounds a bit like "on-strike" - imagine painters going 'on strike' (anstreichen also means 'to paint') leaving just one coat (Anstrich) on the wall. For the figurative meaning, think that a superficial appearance is often just 'painted on' (angestrichen) and doesn't go deep.
↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
- For coat of paint: die Bemalung (painting), der Farbauftrag (paint application), die Beschichtung (coating), die Lackierung (varnishing/lacquering)
- For appearance/impression: der Schein (semblance, appearance), die Fassade (facade), die Aufmachung (get-up, presentation), die äußere Hülle (outer shell), die Tünche (whitewash, often pejorative)
Potential for Confusion
- Der Abstrich: Sounds similar but means something completely different (e.g., a swab test in medicine, or a reduction/cutback).
😂 A little paint joke
Der Malerlehrling fragt seinen Meister: "Meister, sollen wir der alten Dame wirklich einen neuen Anstrich verpassen?"
Meister: "Nein, nur der Wand dahinter!"
(Translation: The apprentice painter asks his master: "Master, should we really give the old lady a new coat of paint?"
Master: "No, just the wall behind her!")
✒️ Poem about the "Anstrich"
Ein neuer Anstrich, frisch und klar,
Macht Wände schön, Jahr für Jahr.
Doch manchmal ist's nur äußerer Schein,
Ein falscher Anstrich, trügerisch und klein.
Er deckt die Wahrheit, rau und alt,
Bis irgendwann die Fassade fällt.
(Translation: A new coat of paint, fresh and clear, / Makes walls beautiful, year after year. / But sometimes it's just outward appearance, / A false coat, deceptive and small inearance. / It covers the truth, rough and old, / Until someday the facade unfolds/falls.)
❓ Riddle Time
Ich liege auf Wänden, bin mal matt, mal Glanz,
Verändere Räume im bunten Tanz.
Manchmal bin ich nur Fassade, nicht echt,
Verberge das Wahre, mal gut, mal schlecht.
Was bin ich?
(Translation: I lie on walls, sometimes matte, sometimes gloss, / Changing rooms in a colourful dance. / Sometimes I'm just a facade, not real, / Hiding the true, sometimes good, sometimes ill.
What am I?)
(Solution: der Anstrich)
💡 Other Information
Word Composition:
Der Anstrich is a noun derived from the verb anstreichen (to paint, to coat). It is composed of:
- an- (prefix indicating direction towards or adhesion to)
- streichen (verb: to paint/coat; but also: to strike through, delete, stroke)
Interestingly, "streichen" can also mean the opposite (to remove), but in the context of "anstreichen", it clearly means to apply.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Anstrich?
The word Anstrich is always masculine: der Anstrich. It means either a coat of paint applied to a surface, or the outward, often superficial, appearance or impression something or someone gives.