01
dünn
thin
Having little thickness or width; the opposite of thick.
example
Bitte schneide die Wurst in ganz dünne Scheiben.
Please cut the sausage into very thin slices.
dünn
thin
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
01 / 06
Usage tips
Intensification: hauchdünn
To express that something is extremely thin, the word 'hauchdünn' (paper-thin / wafer-thin) is often used. It is made up of 'Hauch' (breath) and 'dünn' (thin) and literally means 'as thin as a breath.'
EXAMPLE
Der Schinken war hauchdünn geschnitten.
The ham was sliced wafer-thin.
Little thickness
In its basic meaning, 'dünn' (thin) describes objects with little thickness. Typical examples are 'eine dünne Scheibe' Brot (a thin slice of bread), 'ein dünnes Buch' (a thin book), or 'eine dünne Jacke' (a thin jacket).
EXAMPLE
Für den Winter ist diese Jacke viel zu dünn.
This jacket is far too thin for winter.
Describing people
When 'dünn' (thin) describes a person, it means slim or skinny. Depending on the context, it can be neutral or can also suggest that someone is underweight.
EXAMPLE
Er isst sehr viel, bleibt aber immer dünn.
He eats a lot but always stays thin.
Watery liquids
In connection with liquids such as coffee, tea, or soup, 'dünn' (weak / watery) means that they are watery and have little flavor.
EXAMPLE
Die Suppe ist so dünn, sie schmeckt nur nach Wasser.
The soup is so watery, it just tastes like water.
Weak arguments
In the figurative sense, 'dünn' (weak) is used for arguments, excuses, or evidence that are not convincing or are easy to refute.
EXAMPLE
Die Beweislage gegen den Angeklagten war sehr dünn.
The evidence against the defendant was very weak.
Fixed expression
The combination 'dünne Luft' (thin air) is a fixed expression. It describes oxygen-poor air at high altitudes, but it can also be used metaphorically for a difficult situation.
EXAMPLE
Für Bergsteiger wird die Luft über 4000 Metern gefährlich dünn.
For mountaineers, the air above 4,000 meters becomes dangerously thin.
Quiet voice
A 'dünne Stimme' (thin voice) is a voice that sounds very quiet, high, and weak, often as a sign of fear or weakness.
EXAMPLE
Aus Angst konnte sie nur mit dünner Stimme antworten.
Out of fear, she could only answer in a thin voice.
Compare with
dünn vs voll
full
'voll' and 'dünn' both describe how much of something there is or how strong something seems, but they fit different contexts. 'Voll' says that a container, room, or place is filled and that little or no space remains. 'Dünn' mainly describes little thickness, for example with paper or fabric, or a watery, not very strong liquid. In some situations, the words seem like opposites because 'voll' sounds like a lot of content and 'dünn' like little strength or substance. But they are not always direct opposites: the normal opposite of 'voll' is often 'leer', and the normal opposite of 'dünn' is often 'dick'.
dünn
Die Suppe schmeckt dünn, weil zu viel Wasser darin ist.
The soup tastes watery because there is too much water in it.
voll
Der Bus ist so voll, dass niemand mehr einsteigen kann.
The bus is so full that no one else can get on.
In real life
Loading video examples...