German word

schlank

Pronunciation

IPA/ʃlaŋk/

Meaning

  • adjectiveslim

Example

Meine Schwester ist schlanker als ich.

My sister is slimmer than I am.

Illustration for schlank (slim)

More examples

Trotz Stress bleibt sie schlank.

Despite stress, she remains slim.

Core concept

A clean, slender body line with harmonious proportions and little bulk.

Common phrases

  • eine schlanke Figur haben

    have a slim figure

  • schlank bleiben

    stay slim

  • eine schlanke Taille haben

    have a slim waist

Similar words

dünn: Noticeably thin, with little body fat or muscle.
mager: Very thin, with prominent bones and almost no visible body fat.
athletisch: Muscular and well-toned, with a strong build developed through exercise.
zierlich: Petite and slender, with a fragile, delicate-looking build.

Definition in German

Dünn und harmonisch proportioniert, nicht kräftig oder bauchig

Word origin

The adjective schlank developed from Old High German slank, an inherited Germanic word for something slender or narrow.

Usage tips

  • Schlank usually sounds positive or neutral, while thin can more readily suggest insufficient weight in English.

Other meanings

  • slenderadjective
  • thinadjective

Opposites

  • übergewichtigoverweightadjective
  • fülligplumpadjective

Related words

  • Schlankheitslimnessnoun
  • Schlankheitsidealideal of slimnessnoun

Word lists with this word