German Conversation · Level 8
90 words
German word
schmal
Pronunciation
IPA/ʃmaːl/
Meaning
- adjectivenarrow
Example
Die Gasse ist schmal.
The alley is narrow.
More examples
Die Hose ist zu schmal; sie sitzt nicht bequem.
The trousers are too narrow; they are not comfortable.
Core concept
A form reduced in width, whether a street, object, or person, rather than reduced in overall size.
Common phrases
schmale Gasse
narrow alley
schmale Tür
narrow door
Similar words
eng: So narrow that moving through a passage or gap is difficult.
Definition in German
Geringe Ausdehnung von einer Seite zur anderen; im Gegensatz zu breit.
Word origin
Schmal and English small share the Proto-Germanic ancestor *smalaz, but their meanings diverged as English small came to mean generally little in size.
Usage tips
- English small is not the usual translation of schmal; small means klein or gering, whereas schmal refers specifically to limited width.