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Shapes and sizes in German

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When describing shapes and sizes in German, der Kreis names a flat geometric shape, while die Kugel names a three-dimensional body. Rund describes roundness; it does not specify whether something is a circle or a sphere.

Groß refers to overall size and can also describe a person’s height. Hoch describes vertical extent, for example the height of a building. Dick refers to thickness, while Breit refers to width. These adjectives describe different dimensions, so the appropriate word depends on what you are measuring.

  1. Begrenzt /bəˈɡʁɛnt͡st/ Limited B1Intermediate#
  2. Creme /kʁeːm/ das Cream colour B2Intermediate#
  3. Groß /ɡʁoːs/ Large A1Elementary#
  4. Klein /klaɪ̯n/ Small A1Elementary#
  5. Chromatisch /kʁoˈmaːtɪʃ/ Chromatic C1Advanced#
  6. Monochrom /monoˈkʁoːm/ Monochrome C1Advanced#
  7. Polychrom /polyˈkʁoːm/ Polychrome C2Advanced#
  8. Gigantisch /ɡiˈɡantɪʃ/ Gigantic B1Intermediate#
  9. Riesig /ˈʁiːzɪç/ Huge A2Intermediate#
  10. Winzig /ˈvɪntsɪç/ Tiny B1Intermediate#
  11. Gepunktet /ɡəˈpʊŋktət/ Dotted A2Intermediate#
  12. Gestreift /ɡəˈʃtʁaɪ̯ft/ Striped A2Intermediate#
  13. Kariert /kaˈʁiːɐ̯t/ Checkered A2Intermediate#
  14. Glänzend /ˈɡlɛntsənt/ Shiny B1Intermediate#
  15. Matt /mat/ Matte B1Intermediate#
  16. Voluminös /volumiˈnøːs/ Voluminous C1Advanced#
  17. Eng /ˈɛŋ/ Tight A2Elementary#
  18. Nah /ˈnaː/ Close A1Elementary#
  19. Weit /vaɪ̯t/ Roomy A2Elementary#
  20. Durchsichtig /ˈdʊʁçˌzɪçtɪç/ Transparent B1Intermediate#
  21. Kurz /kʊʁt͡s/ Short A1Elementary#
  22. Lang /laŋ/ Long A1Elementary#
  23. Breit /ˈbʁaɪ̯t/ Wide A2Elementary#
  24. Schmal /ˈʃmaːl/ Narrow A2Elementary#
  25. Hoch /hoːx/ High A1Elementary#
  26. Niedrig /ˈniːdʁɪç/ Low A2Elementary#
  27. Dick /ˈdɪk/ Thick A1Elementary#
  28. Dünn /ˈdʏn/ Thin A2Elementary#
  29. die Kugel /diː ˈkuːɡəl/ pl. die Kugeln Sphere; bullet A2Intermediate#
  30. Kompakt /kɔmˈpakt/ Compact B1Intermediate#
  31. Stumpf /ʃtʊmpf/ Blunt B1Intermediate#
  32. Fern /ˈfɛʁn/ Remote B1Intermediate#
  33. Quadratisch /kvaˈdʁaːtɪʃ/ Square B1Intermediate#
  34. Rechteckig /ˈʁɛçtˌʔɛkɪç/ Rectangular A2Intermediate#
  35. Rau /ˈʁaʊ̯/ Rough B1Intermediate#
  36. Achteckig /ˈaxtˌʔɛkɪç/ Octagonal B1Advanced#
  37. Konisch /ˈkoːnɪʃ/ Conical C1Advanced#
  38. Zylindrisch /tsyˈlɪndʁɪʃ/ Cylindrical C1Advanced#
  39. Sphärisch /ˈsfɛːʁɪʃ/ Spherical C1Advanced#
  40. Kubisch /ˈkuːbɪʃ/ Cubic B2Advanced#
  41. Fluoreszierend /fluoʁɛsˈt͡siːʁənt/ Fluorescent C1Advanced#
  42. der Torus /deːɐ̯ ˈtoːʁʊs/ pl. die Tori Torus C2Advanced#
  43. Opalisierend /opaliˈziːʁənt/ Opalescent C2Advanced#
  44. Marmoriert /maʁmoˈʁiːɐ̯t/ Marbled C1Advanced#
  45. Perlmutt /ˈpɛʁlmʊt/ das Mother-of-pearl B2Advanced#
  46. Irisierend /iʁiˈziːʁənt/ Iridescent C1Advanced#
  47. Entsättigt /ɛntˈzɛtɪçt/ Desaturated C1Advanced#
  48. Elfenbein /ˈɛlfn̩ˌbaɪ̯n/ das Ivory B2Advanced#
  49. die Linie /diː ˈliːni̯ə/ pl. die Linien Line A2Elementary#
  50. der Punkt /deːɐ̯ ˈpʊŋkt/ pl. die Punkte Point A1Elementary#
  51. der Stern /deːɐ̯ ˈʃtɛʁn/ pl. die Sterne Star A2Elementary#
  52. das Herz /das ˈhɛʁts/ pl. die Herzen Heart A2Elementary#
  53. Rund /ˈʁʊnt/ Round A1Elementary#
  54. Gerade /ɡəˈʁaːdə/ Straight A2Elementary#
  55. Mittelgroß /ˈmɪtl̩ˌɡʁoːs/ Medium sized A2Elementary#
  56. Metallisch /meˈtalɪʃ/ Metallic B2Intermediate#
  57. Leuchtend /ˈlɔɪ̯çtənt/ Luminous B1Intermediate#
  58. Grell /ɡʁɛl/ Glaring B2Intermediate#
  59. das Rechteck /das ˈʁɛçtˌʔɛk/ pl. die Rechtecke Rectangle A2Intermediate#
  60. Massiv /maˈsiːf/ Solid B1Intermediate#
  61. Tief /tiːf/ Deep A2Elementary#
  62. Bunt /ˈbʊnt/ Colorful A1Elementary#
  63. Glatt /ɡlat/ Smooth A2Elementary#
  64. der Kreis /deːɐ̯ ˈkʁaɪ̯s/ pl. die Kreise Circle A2Elementary#
  65. der Pfeil /deːɐ̯ ˈpfaɪ̯l/ pl. die Pfeile Arrow A2Elementary#
  66. der Würfel /deːɐ̯ ˈvʏʁfl̩/ pl. die Würfel Cube B1Elementary#
  67. Flach /ˈflax/ Flat A2Elementary#
  68. Asymmetrisch /azyˈmeːtʁɪʃ/ Asymmetrical B2Intermediate#
  69. Symmetrisch /zyˈmeːtʁɪʃ/ Symmetrical B2Intermediate#
  70. Blass /ˈblas/ Pale A2Elementary#
  71. Ausgedehnt /ˈaʊ̯sɡəˌdeːnt/ Extended B2Intermediate#
  72. das Quadrat /das kvaˈdʁaːt/ pl. die Quadrate Square A2Elementary#
  73. das Oval /das oˈvaːl/ pl. die Ovale Oval B1Elementary#
  74. die Pyramide /diː pyʁaˈmiːdə/ pl. die Pyramiden Pyramid B1Elementary#
  75. das Achteck /das ˈʔaxtˌʔɛk/ pl. die Achtecke Octagon B1Elementary#
  76. Eckig /ˈɛkɪç/ Angular A2Elementary#
  77. Mini /ˈmɪni/ Mini A2Elementary#
  78. der Kegel /deːɐ̯ ˈkeːɡəl/ pl. die Kegel Cone B1Intermediate#
  79. der Zylinder /deːɐ̯ tsyˈlɪndɐ/ pl. die Zylinder Cylinder B2Intermediate#
  80. Dreieckig /ˈdʁaɪ̯ˌʔɛkɪç/ Triangular A2Elementary#
  81. das Dreieck /das ˈdʁaɪ̯ˌʔɛk/ pl. die Dreiecke Triangle A2Elementary#
  82. Einfarbig /ˈaɪ̯nˌfaʁbɪç/ Solid-colored A2Elementary#
  83. Zweifarbig /ˈtsvaɪ̯ˌfaʁbɪç/ Two-colored B1Elementary#
  84. Spitz /ʃpɪt͡s/ Pointed A2Elementary#
  85. Transparent /tʁanspaˈʁɛnt/ Transparent B2Elementary#
  86. der Rhombus /deːɐ̯ ˈʁɔmbʊs/ pl. die Rhomben Rhombus B2Intermediate#
  87. das Trapez /das tʁaˈpeːts/ pl. die Trapeze Trapezoid B2Intermediate#
  88. das Sechseck /das ˈzɛksˌʔɛk/ pl. die Sechsecke Hexagon B1Intermediate#
  89. Kurvig /ˈkʊʁvɪç/ Curvy B1Intermediate#
  90. Spiralförmig /ʃpiˈʁaːlˌfœʁmɪç/ Spiral B2Intermediate#
  91. Wellenförmig /ˈvɛlənˌfœʁmɪç/ Wavy B2Intermediate#
  92. Mikro /ˈmiːkʁo/ Micro B2Intermediate#
  93. Kreisförmig /ˈkʁaɪ̯sˌfœʁmɪç/ Circular B2Intermediate#
  94. Sechseckig /ˈzɛksˌʔɛkɪç/ Hexagonal B1Intermediate#
  95. Milchig /ˈmɪlçɪç/ Milky B2Intermediate#
  96. Halbtransparent /ˌhalptʁanspaˈʁɛnt/ Semi-transparent B2Intermediate#
  97. Abgerundet /ˈapɡəˌʁʊndət/ Rounded B2Intermediate#
  98. Kantig /ˈkantɪç/ Jagged B2Intermediate#
  99. Anthrazit /antʁaˈt͡siːt/ der Anthracite B2Intermediate#
  100. Graphit /ɡʁaˈfiːt/ der Graphite B2Intermediate#
  101. Farblos /ˈfaʁpˌloːs/ Colorless B1Intermediate#
  102. Schattiert /ʃaˈtiːɐ̯t/ Shaded B2Intermediate#
  103. Samtig /ˈzamtɪç/ Velvety B2Intermediate#
  104. Texturiert /tɛkstuˈʁiːɐ̯t/ Textured C1Intermediate#
  105. Reflektierend /ʁeflɛkˈtiːʁənt/ Reflective B2Intermediate#
  106. Gesättigt /ɡəˈzɛtɪçt/ Saturated B2Intermediate#
  107. Pastell /pasˈtɛl/ das pl. die Pastelle Pastel B2Intermediate#
  108. Lavendel /laˈvɛndəl/ der pl. die Lavendel Lavender B1Intermediate#

Colors

Open as its own topic
  1. Beige /beːʒ/ Beige A2Intermediate#
  2. Türkis /tʏʁˈkiːs/ der pl. die Türkise Turquoise B2Intermediate#
  3. Violett /vi̯oˈlɛt/ Violet A1Intermediate#
  4. Oliv /oˈliːf/ Olive B1Intermediate#
  5. Khaki /ˈkaːki/ Khaki B1Intermediate#
  6. Marineblau /maˈʁiːnəˌblaʊ̯/ Navy blue B1Intermediate#
  7. Rot /ˈʁoːt/ Red A1Elementary#
  8. Gelb /ɡɛlp/ Yellow A1Elementary#
  9. Blau /ˈblaʊ̯/ Blue A1Elementary#
  10. Grün /ɡʁyːn/ Green A1Elementary#
  11. Schwarz /ˈʃvaʁts/ Black A1Elementary#
  12. Weiß /vaɪ̯s/ White A1Elementary#
  13. Orange /oˈʁɑ̃ːʒə/ Orange A1Elementary#
  14. Lila /ˈliːla/ Purple A1Elementary#
  15. Rosa /ˈʁoːza/ Pink A1Elementary#
  16. Grau /ɡʁaʊ̯/ Gray A1Elementary#
  17. Braun /ˈbʁaʊ̯n/ Brown A1Elementary#
  18. Gold /ɡɔlt/ das Gold A2Elementary#
  19. Silber /ˈzɪlbɐ/ das Silver A2Elementary#
  20. Himmelblau /ˈhɪməlˌblaʊ̯/ Sky blue B1Intermediate#
  21. Hellblau /ˈhɛlˌblaʊ̯/ Light blue A1Elementary#
  22. Dunkelblau /ˈdʊŋkəlˌblaʊ̯/ Dark blue A1Elementary#
  23. Dunkelrot /ˈdʊŋkl̩ˌʁoːt/ Dark red A2Elementary#
  24. Bordeaux /bɔʁˈdoː/ das Bordeaux B1Advanced#
  25. Burgunderrot /bʊʁˈɡʊndɐˌʁoːt/ Burgundy red B2Advanced#
  26. Dunkelgrün /ˈdʊŋkəlˌɡʁyːn/ Dark green A1Elementary#
  27. Hellgrün /ˈhɛlˌɡʁyːn/ Light green A1Elementary#
  28. Zinnoberrot /tsɪˈnoːbɐˌʁoːt/ Vermilion C1Advanced#
  29. Umbrabraun /ˈʔʊmbʁaˌbʁaʊ̯n/ Umber brown C1Advanced#
  30. Indigoblau /ˈɪndiɡoˌblaʊ̯/ Indigo blue B2Advanced#
  31. Korallenrot /koˈʁalənˌʁoːt/ Coral red B2Advanced#
  32. Hellrot /ˈhɛlˌʁoːt/ Light red A2Elementary#
  33. Zitronengelb /tsiˈtʁoːnənˌɡɛlp/ Lemon yellow B2Elementary#
  34. Tiefschwarz /ˈtiːfˌʃvaʁts/ Jet black B2Elementary#
  35. Schneeweiß /ˈʃneːˌvaɪ̯s/ Snow white B1Elementary#
  36. Sandfarben /ˈzantˌfaʁbən/ Sand-colored B1Elementary#
  37. Schokoladenbraun /ʃokoˈlaːdənˌbʁaʊ̯n/ Chocolate brown B1Elementary#
  38. Pastellrosa /pasˈtɛlˌʁoːza/ Pastel pink B2Intermediate#
  39. Pastellgelb /pasˈtɛlˌɡɛlp/ Pastel yellow B2Intermediate#
  40. Neonorange /neˈoːnʔoˌʁɑ̃ːʒə/ Neon orange B1Intermediate#
  41. Neongrün /neˈoːnˌɡʁyːn/ Neon green B1Intermediate#
  42. Stahlblau /ˈʃtaːlˌblaʊ̯/ Steel blue B2Intermediate#
  43. Ocker /ˈɔkɐ/ der Ochre B2Intermediate#
  44. Sienna /ziˈɛna/ das Sienna C1Intermediate#
  45. Smaragdgrün /smaˈʁaktˌɡʁyːn/ Emerald green B2Intermediate#
  46. Salbeigrün /ˈzalbaɪ̯ˌɡʁyːn/ Sage green B2Intermediate#
  47. Pfirsichfarben /ˈpfɪʁzɪçˌfaʁbn̩/ Peach-colored B2Intermediate#

Rules to remember

  • The nouns der Kreis, die Kugel and das Quadrat show three genders: masculine, feminine and neuter. Their articles here mark the nominative singular.
  • Adjectives such as Groß and Rund are normally lowercase within a sentence unless used as nouns.
  • Before a noun, these adjectives take endings determined by gender, case, number and the accompanying article. As predicate adjectives, they have no such endings.

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