der
Pinsel
🖌️ What does "der Pinsel" mean?
Der Pinsel primarily refers to a tool for applying paint, varnish, or other liquid or paste-like substances. It typically consists of a handle (Stiel) and a bundle of hair (Haare), bristles (Borsten), or synthetic fibers (synthetische Fasern).
Colloquially, Pinsel can also be used pejoratively for a person considered clumsy, simple-minded, or foolish (similar to "fool" or "idiot"). 🥸
Article rules for der, die, and das
-el → mostly masculine.
1. Caution: many exceptions. 2. there are many -el words, we don't list them all.
🧐 Grammar of "der Pinsel"
Pinsel is a masculine noun. The article is der.
Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Pinsel |
| Genitive | des | Pinsels |
| Dative | dem | Pinsel |
| Accusative | den | Pinsel |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Pinsel |
| Genitive | der | Pinsel |
| Dative | den | Pinseln |
| Accusative | die | Pinsel |
Example Sentences
- Der Pinsel liegt auf dem Tisch. (The paintbrush is on the table.)
- Ich brauche einen neuen Pinsel für die feinen Details. (I need a new paintbrush for the fine details.)
- Die Borsten des Pinsels sind weich. (The bristles of the paintbrush are soft.)
- Mit dem Pinsel male ich das Bild. (I paint the picture with the paintbrush.)
- Bitte reinige die Pinsel nach Gebrauch. (Please clean the paintbrushes after use.)
✍️ How to use "Pinsel"?
Pinsel is primarily used in the context of painting, arts and crafts, renovation, or cosmetics.
- Painting/Art: For applying oil, acrylic, watercolor paints, etc. (Künstlerpinsel, Flachpinsel, Rundpinsel - artist brush, flat brush, round brush).
- Renovation/Crafts: For painting walls, furniture, fences with varnishes, glazes, or wall paints (Lackierpinsel, Heizkörperpinsel - varnish brush, radiator brush).
- Cosmetics: For applying makeup (Puderpinsel, Lidschattenpinsel - powder brush, eyeshadow brush).
- Cleaning: Sometimes used for fine cleaning tasks (Staubpinsel - dusting brush for keyboards).
- Colloquial (pejorative): "Du bist vielleicht ein Pinsel!" means something like "You're quite a fool!". ⚠️ Use this meaning with caution!
Compared to a Bürste (brush), a Pinsel usually has softer and longer bristles/hair and is primarily for application, whereas a Bürste is often for cleaning, smoothing, or structuring and has stiffer bristles.
🧠 Mnemonics for "der Pinsel"
Article Mnemonic
Think of DER Painter using der Pinsel. Many tools (Werkzeuge) in German are masculine (der).
Meaning Mnemonic
Imagine a Pinsel sounds a bit like "pencil". While different, both are used for making marks – a pencil for lines, a Pinsel for painting broad strokes.
↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Malerpinsel: Specifically a painter's brush.
- Borstenpinsel: Bristle brush (emphasizes material).
Antonyms (opposite meaning, context-dependent):
- Farbrolle / Malerrolle: Paint roller (for large surfaces).
- Spachtel: Spatula / scraper (for applying or removing paste).
- Sprühdose / Spritzpistole: Spray can / spray gun (for applying paint by spraying).
Similar but different words:
- Bürste (die): Brush - usually stiffer bristles, often for cleaning or grooming (Haarbürste - hairbrush, Schuhbürste - shoe brush). The distinction can be blurry (e.g., Kleisterbürste - paste brush).
😂 A little Pinsel joke
German: Fragt der Malerlehrling seinen Meister: "Meister, soll ich die Fensterrahmen mitstreichen?" Meister: "Nein, du Pinsel, nur das Holz!"
English: The apprentice painter asks his master: "Master, should I paint the window frames too?" Master: "No, you Pinsel (fool), just the wood!"
📜 Poem about the Pinsel
German:
Der Pinsel, fein und mit Bedacht,
hat Farbe auf die Wand gebracht.
Mal sanft, mal kräftig ist sein Strich,
Kunstwerk oder Anstrich.English:
The paintbrush, fine and with care,
brought color to the wall up there.
Sometimes gentle, sometimes bold its stroke,
A work of art or just a coat.
❓ Pinsel Riddle
German:
Ich habe Haare, aber keinen Kopf.
Ich tauche ein in manchen Topf.
Ich hinterlasse bunte Spuren,
auf Leinwänden und auf Mauern.
Was bin ich?
English:
I have hair, but have no head.
I take a dip in pots instead.
I leave behind colorful traces,
on canvases and wall faces.
What am I?
Answer: Der Pinsel (The paintbrush)
💡 Other Information
- Origin: The German word Pinsel comes from the Latin 'penicillus', meaning 'little tail', which originally referred to a small painting brush.
- Materials: Brush hairs (Pinselhaare) can be of animal origin (e.g., red sable hair - Rotmarderhaar, hog bristles - Schweineborsten) or synthetically produced.
- Idiom: The phrase "den Pinsel schwingen" colloquially means "to paint".
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Pinsel?
The word "Pinsel" is masculine, so the correct article is der. It refers to a tool for applying paint or similar substances, and can also be used colloquially as a derogatory term for a person.