hager
gaunt
Describes a person who is very thin and bony, often in a way that looks unhealthy or caused by deprivation.
EXAMPLE
Der alte Mann hatte ein hageres Gesicht mit tief liegenden Augen.
The old man had a gaunt face with deep-set eyes.
hager
gaunt
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
Usage tips
Style and nuance
'Hager' (gaunt) does not just mean 'dünn' (thin). It often has a negative or concerned connotation and describes a person who looks bony and skinny, possibly because of illness, age, or hard work.
EXAMPLE
Nach seiner langen Krankheit war er sehr hager geworden.
After his long illness, he had become very gaunt.
Typical collocations
This adjective is used almost exclusively to describe people or their body parts. Typical combinations are 'eine hagere Gestalt' (a gaunt figure), 'ein hagerer Mann' (a gaunt man), or 'ein hageres Gesicht' (a gaunt face).
EXAMPLE
Eine hagere Gestalt trat aus dem Schatten hervor.
A gaunt figure emerged from the shadows.
Use with 'wirken'
'Hager' (gaunt) is often used with the verb 'wirken' (to seem, to appear) to describe an impression. This combination is very natural when describing a person's appearance.
EXAMPLE
Der Wanderer wirkte hager und erschöpft.
The hiker appeared gaunt and exhausted.
Compare with
hager vs mager
thin / lean / meager
Mager and hager can both describe a very thin person. Hager emphasizes more strongly the narrow, bony, and often unhealthy-looking overall impression, while mager refers more directly to a lack of body mass and can sound more neutral. Hager is therefore especially suitable when the person's visible bone structure is being emphasized.
hager
Nach der Krankheit wirkte die Frau hager und ihr schmales Gesicht war kantig geworden.
After the illness, the woman looked gaunt, and her narrow face had become angular.
mager
Nach der Krankheit war die Frau mager, aber langsam nahm sie wieder zu.
After the illness, the woman was thin, but she slowly began to gain weight again.
In real life
Loading video examples...