der Klaps
slap
A light hit, usually with the palm of the hand.
EXAMPLE
Das Kind bekam einen Klaps auf die Hand.
The child got a slap on the hand.
der Klaps
slap / tap
der Klaps, die Klapse
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Meanings
einen Klaps haben
to have a screw loose
Colloquial: to be somewhat mentally odd or not quite normal.
EXAMPLE
Du musst einen Klaps haben, wenn du bei diesem Wetter joggen gehst.
You must have a screw loose if you're going jogging in this weather.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Klaps, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| plural | die Klapse |
| genitive | des Klapses |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Klaps | die Klapse |
| accusative | den Klaps | die Klapse |
| dative | dem Klaps | den Klapsen |
| genitive | des Klapses | der Klapse |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Typical sentence structure
With „Klaps“ (slap), the person affected is often in the dative when expressing whom someone gives a slap to. The part of the body often follows with „auf“ (on) and the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Der Vater gab dem Kind einen Klaps auf die Schulter.
The father gave the child a slap on the shoulder.
Typical collocations
In its literal meaning, „Klaps“ (slap) is often used with verbs such as „geben“ (to give), „bekommen“ (to get), or „verpassen“ (to give). Typical additions name a part of the body, for example „auf die Hand“ (on the hand) or „auf den Rücken“ (on the back).
EXAMPLE
Sie bekam einen leichten Klaps auf den Rücken.
She got a light slap on the back.
Fixed expression
„Einen Klaps haben“ (to have a screw loose) is a colloquial expression describing someone whose behavior is considered quite odd or unreasonable. A clue to this meaning is often the verb „haben“ (to have) without a specified part of the body.
EXAMPLE
Wer freiwillig bei eisigem Wind schwimmt, muss einen Klaps haben.
Anyone who voluntarily swims in icy wind must have a screw loose.
In real life
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