Schminke

See also: schminke

German

Etymology

An originally Central and Low German word, from late Middle High German smicke, smyncke (“make-up”), Middle Low German sminke. Further origin uncertain, but probably related with schmeichen, Middle Low German smēken (“to spread, stroke”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʃmɪŋkə/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

Schminke f (genitive Schminke, plural Schminken)

1. make-up

   Ich gehe immer ohne Schminke zur Arbeit.

   I always go to work with no make-up on.

Usage notes

• Schminke and Make-up are principally synonymous, but the former is more likely to be used referring to the cosmetic substances, whereas Make-up is more likely to refer to the look that these substances create. Moreover, only Schminke is typically used in the context of carnival costumes and the like.

Synonyms

• Make-up

Related terms

• schminken
• ungeschminkt
• abschminken
• Schminkkoffer

Descendants

• → Danish: sminke
• → Dutch: schmink
• → Esperanto: ŝminko
• → Hungarian: smink
• → Macedonian: шминка (šminka)
• → Norwegian: sminke
• → Polish: szminka
• → Serbo-Croatian: šminka, шминка
• → Slovene: šminka
• → Swedish: smink

Further reading

• “Schminke” in Duden online