charmant
charming
A person or thing that has a friendly, attractive, and engaging effect on others.
EXAMPLE
Er hat ihr auf eine sehr charmante Weise ein Kompliment gemacht.
He gave her a compliment in a very charming way.
charmant
charming
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Meanings
charmant
charming
Solved or designed in a pleasant or clever way. Can also be used ironically for something that is actually unpleasant.
EXAMPLE
Das ist ja eine charmante Umschreibung für ein großes Problem.
Well, that's a charming way to describe a big problem.
Usage tips
Origin of the word
'Charmant' (charming) is a loanword from French. It is directly related to the word 'Charme' (charm) and describes a person or thing that has an attractive, enchanting effect.
EXAMPLE
Er ist ein sehr charmanter Gastgeber.
He is a very charming host.
Typical collocations
'Charmant' (charming) is often used to describe people, their smile, or their manner. Typical combinations are 'ein charmanter Mann' (a charming man), 'eine charmante Frau' (a charming woman), 'ein charmantes Lächeln' (a charming smile), or 'eine charmante Art' (a charming manner).
EXAMPLE
Sie hat ein sehr charmantes Lächeln.
She has a very charming smile.
Ironic use
The word can also be used ironically to politely paraphrase something that is actually negative. In this case, 'charmant' (charming) means the opposite of what it actually says.
EXAMPLE
Das ist ja eine charmante Ausrede für dein Zuspätkommen.
Well, that's a charming excuse for your being late.
Compare with
charmant vs elegant
elegant
Both words can describe a clever solution or idea in a positive way. „Elegant“ emphasizes a simple, convincing, and effective execution, while „charmant“ focuses more on the pleasant or witty quality of the idea. Choose „elegant“ for the quality of the solution and „charmant“ for its particular appeal.
charmant
Die Lösung ist charmant, weil sie den Nutzer mit einer kleinen freundlichen Idee überrascht.
The solution is charming because it surprises the user with a small, friendly idea.
elegant
Die Lösung ist elegant, weil die Aufgabe mit einem einzigen Klick erledigt wird.
The solution is elegant because the task can be completed with a single click.
In real life
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