hauchdünn
paper-thin
Extremely thin, almost as thin as a breath; usually referring to a layer, material, or object.
EXAMPLE
Sie trug einen hauchdünnen Schal aus Seide.
She wore a paper-thin silk scarf.
hauchdünn
paper-thin
hauchdünn – hauchdünner – am hauchdünnsten
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Meanings
hauchdünn
paper-thin
Very narrow or slight; involving an extremely small margin or difference.
EXAMPLE
Die Mannschaft gewann mit einem hauchdünnen Vorsprung.
The team won by a paper-thin margin.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry hauchdünn, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | hauchdünn |
|---|---|
| comparative | hauchdünner |
| superlative | am hauchdünnsten |
After der, die, das
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -e | -e | -e | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -e | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to hauchdünn.
After ein, eine
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to hauchdünn.
Without article
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -e |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -e |
| dat. | -em | -er | -em | -en |
| gen. | -en | -er | -en | -er |
Add the ending to hauchdünn.
Usage tips
Word formation
'Hauchdünn' (paper-thin) is made up of 'Hauch' (breath) and 'dünn' (thin). The word describes something that is almost as thin as a breath; this also gives rise to the figurative meaning 'very slight' or 'narrow'.
EXAMPLE
Die hauchdünne Folie schützt das empfindliche Material.
The paper-thin foil protects the delicate material.
Typical collocations
In its literal meaning, 'hauchdünn' (paper-thin) is often used with materials and layers. Typical collocations include 'hauchdünner Stoff' (paper-thin fabric), 'hauchdünne Schicht' (paper-thin layer), and 'hauchdünne Scheiben' (paper-thin slices).
EXAMPLE
Auf dem Kuchen lagen hauchdünne Scheiben von frischen Äpfeln.
The cake was topped with paper-thin slices of fresh apples.
Figurative meaning
With words such as 'Vorsprung' (lead), 'Mehrheit' (majority), 'Unterschied' (difference), or 'Abstand' (gap), 'hauchdünn' (paper-thin) does not describe a physically thin object, but a very small difference.
EXAMPLE
Die Kandidatin gewann mit einer hauchdünnen Mehrheit.
The candidate won by a paper-thin majority.
In real life
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