rötliche

Rötliche is the attributive form of the German adjective rötlich, meaning reddish or having a red tint. It describes colors or coloration that are not fully red but toward red. The form results from the root rot with an umlaut and the suffix -lich. In usage, rötliche modifies feminine singular nouns and plural nouns: die rötliche Farbe, eine rötliche Färbung, rötliche Haare, rötliche Töne. In neuter or masculine contexts, forms such as rötliches Licht or rötlicher Farbton are used.

Meaning and nuance: rötlich indicates a color tone lying between red and adjacent hues (pink, orange, brown) and is often used descriptively in art, design, photography, and natural description (herbstliche Blätter, rötliche Sonnenuntergänge). Perception of the shade varies with lighting and saturation. In medical or biological contexts, rötliche Verfärbungen can describe mild redness, but such usage should be precise and context-specific.

Etymology and grammar: the adjective derives from rot (red) with umlaut, yielding rötlich; the inflected form rötliche follows standard German declension rules. The term is common in everyday language as well as in more formal descriptions of color.

Related terms and usage notes: rötlich as the base adjective; related words include Rötung (reddening) and various color descriptors for reddish-brown or pinkish tones. Overall, rötliche is a practical descriptor for moderate red hues in German.