klamm
clammy
Feeling unpleasantly cold and slightly damp.
EXAMPLE
Die Wäsche im Keller war nach einer Woche immer noch klamm.
The laundry in the basement was still clammy after a week.
klamm
clammy / broke
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Meanings
klamm
broke
Colloquial for being short of money; having little or no money.
EXAMPLE
Ende des Monats bin ich meistens ziemlich klamm.
At the end of the month, I'm usually pretty broke.
Usage tips
Context clue
You can easily recognize the meaning of 'klamm' (clammy / broke) from the context. If it refers to objects, the weather, or body parts, it means 'cold and damp'. If it refers to a person or an institution, it colloquially means 'to have little money'.
EXAMPLE
Meine Hände sind nach dem Spaziergang im Nebel ganz klamm.
My hands are completely clammy after the walk in the fog.
Typical collocations
In the meaning 'cold and damp', 'klamm' (clammy) is often used to describe unpleasant dampness. Typical collocations are 'klamme Hände' (clammy hands), 'klamme Kleidung' (clammy clothing), or 'klamme Mauern' (damp walls).
EXAMPLE
Die Wände im alten Keller fühlen sich klamm an.
The walls in the old basement feel clammy.
Register
The meaning 'to have little money' is purely colloquial. In formal situations or in written language, you would avoid this expression.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du mir 20 Euro leihen? Ich bin gerade total klamm.
Can you lend me 20 euros? I'm totally broke right now.
Use in a sentence
When 'klamm' (broke) means a shortage of money, it is used almost exclusively predicatively, that is, with a verb like 'sein' (to be) or 'werden' (to become). Using it directly before a noun is very rare in this meaning.
EXAMPLE
Die Stadtkasse ist klamm, deshalb werden keine neuen Projekte finanziert.
The city treasury is broke, so no new projects are being funded.
Compare with
klamm vs knapp
scarce / just under / close
Here, knapp usually describes the money itself or appears in the phrase „knapp bei Kasse“. Klamm can colloquially be said directly of a person. So someone with little money can be klamm, while their money is knapp.
klamm
Am Monatsende bin ich meistens klamm.
At the end of the month, I’m usually broke.
knapp
Am Monatsende ist mein Geld knapp.
At the end of the month, my money is scarce.
In real life
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