bemalen

Bemalen is a German verb meaning to apply paint to a surface in order to decorate, mark, or protect it. It covers painting on walls, furniture, ceramics, textiles, and canvases. The action can be undertaken for functional purposes, such as sealant protection, or for decoration, such as murals or decorative motifs.

Origin and form: The word is formed from malen (to paint) with the prefix be-, a common German construction that yields verbs indicating giving a property or effect. The related noun is Bemalung (the act of painting). The past participle is bemalt.

Usage: Bemalen is used for both large-scale works and domestic craft. Common collocations include eine Wand bemalen (to paint a wall), Möbel bemalen (to paint furniture), or Keramik bemalen (to decorate ceramics). In architectural contexts, Wandbemalung or Wandmalerei denotes wall paintings or murals.

Techniques and materials: The choice of paint depends on the surface and purpose—water-based paints or acrylics for interiors, enamel or oil-based finishes for durability. Tools such as brushes, rollers, stencils, or sponges are employed. Techniques range from freehand painting to stenciling and decorative effects.

See also: Bemalung, Wandmalerei, Malerei, Graffiti.