weißem

Weißem is a form of the German adjective weiß, meaning white. In German grammar, weißem is the dative singular form for masculine or neuter nouns in attributive position. It is used when the modified noun is in the dative case and the adjective bears the appropriate ending, typically in contexts without a definite determiner or with a determiner that does not supply the dative ending.

Usage and examples

In everyday language, weißem appears in phrases such as aus weißem Porzellan (made of white porcelain) or mit weißem Tee (with white tea). It can also occur with masculine or neuter nouns in the dative singular after prepositions like aus, mit, bei, oder vor, when the noun is used without a definite article or with a determiner that leaves the adjective to bear the -em ending. For contrast, after a definite article the corresponding dative form is more often weißem is not used; instead, the attributive form would commonly be weißen (e.g., dem weißen Hemd).

Grammatical notes

weißem is the attributive, declined form of the adjective weiß in the dative singular masculine/neuter. The same adjective, when used with definite articles, takes the ending weißen (dem weißen Mann, dem weißen Haus). The form memorably aligns with the German strong and mixed declension patterns for adjectives in the dative case.

Etymology

The adjective weiß derives from Old High German wîs, with origins in the Proto-Germanic root *hwītaz, cognate with English white and Dutch wit. The current form weißem reflects regular German inflection for adjectives in the dative singular masculine/neuter.

See also

weiß (the base adjective meaning white) and related inflected forms.