01
hohl
hollow
Empty inside; without contents or filling.
example
Der alte Baumstamm war innen völlig hohl.
The old tree trunk was completely hollow inside.
hohl
hollow
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
The adjective 'hohl' (hollow) is related to the noun 'die Höhle' (cave). A cave is a hollow space in a mountain, which nicely illustrates the basic meaning of 'empty inside'.
EXAMPLE
Der Specht klopfte an den hohlen Baum.
The woodpecker pecked at the hollow tree.
Context clue
The meaning of 'hohl' (hollow) depends strongly on the context. If it refers to a physical object, it means 'empty inside'. If it refers to statements or people, it means 'superficial' or 'stupid'.
EXAMPLE
Dieser Schokoladenhase ist hohl.
This chocolate bunny is hollow.
Typical collocations
In its figurative meaning, 'hohl' (empty, shallow) is often used for abstract concepts. Typical combinations are 'hohle Phrasen' (empty phrases), 'hohle Worte' (empty words), or 'hohle Versprechungen' (empty promises).
EXAMPLE
Die Rede des Politikers war voller hohler Phrasen.
The politician's speech was full of empty phrases.
Describing the body
When 'hohl' (hollow, sunken) describes body parts, it usually refers to sunken parts of the face. Common combinations are 'hohle Wangen' (hollow cheeks) or 'hohle Augen' (sunken eyes) as a sign of exhaustion or illness.
EXAMPLE
Nach der Grippe hatte er ganz hohle Augen.
After the flu, he had very sunken eyes.
Describing sound
To describe a dull sound, 'hohl' (hollow) is often combined with verbs like 'klingen' (to sound) or 'tönen' (to ring, to resound). It describes a sound that seems to come from an empty space.
EXAMPLE
Das Klopfen an der Wand klang hohl.
The knocking on the wall sounded hollow.
Compare with
hohl vs dumm
stupid / unfortunate
'dumm' and 'hohl' can both be derogatory when referring to people or statements. 'dumm' says directly that something is not smart. In this context, 'hohl' means more that a statement seems empty, shallow, or without real substance. When used about a person, 'hohl' is a very crude insult. For a bad decision, 'dumm' often fits better. For empty remarks or thoughts without substance, 'hohl' sounds more natural.
hohl
Seine Antwort klang hohl und hat niemandem geholfen.
His answer sounded empty and did not help anyone.
dumm
Ich finde es dumm, wenn man im Zug laut Musik hört.
I think it is stupid when people listen to loud music on the train.
In real life
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