German Conversation · Level 7
88 words
German word
minimal
Pronunciation
IPA/miniˈmaːl/
Meaning
- adjectiveminimal
Example
Die Unterschiede sind minimaler als gedacht.
The differences are smaller than expected.
More examples
Die Lösung entstand mit minimalem Aufwand.
The solution came about with minimal effort.
Core concept
A nearly imperceptible change marks the lower edge of a scale without necessarily reaching its absolute minimum.
Common phrases
minimaler Einfluss
minimal influence
mit minimalem Aufwand
with minimal effort
Similar words
gering: Small in amount or degree, but not necessarily the smallest possible.
klein: Small in physical size or quantity.
Definition in German
Auf ein sehr kleines Ausmaß beschränkt; kaum wahrnehmbar.
Word origin
Minimal reflects the Latin stem minim- from minimus, 'smallest', preserved in modern European scholarly vocabulary.
Usage tips
- Minimal can mean 'very slight' rather than literally 'the least possible', so 'minimaler als gedacht' means 'more slight than expected'.
Other meanings
- smallestadjective
- leastadjective
Opposites
- wesentlichsignificantadjective
Related words
- Minimalwertminimum valuenoun
- Minimalbetragminimum amountnoun