01
mager
thin
Very thin, with little body fat. Refers to people or animals.
example
Nach seiner langen Krankheit war er sehr mager geworden.
After his long illness, he had become very thin.
mager
thin / lean / meager
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Context clue
The meaning of 'mager' depends strongly on the noun it describes. With people and animals, it means 'dünn' (thin); with foods, it means 'fettarm' (low-fat/lean); and with results or quantities, it means 'gering' (small) or 'unzureichend' (insufficient).
EXAMPLE
Der Streuner war ein magerer Hund.
The stray was a thin dog.
Style and nuance
When 'mager' describes a person, it often has a slightly negative or concerned connotation. It usually implies that someone is underweight or unhealthily thin.
EXAMPLE
Der Arzt sagte, der Patient sei zu mager und müsse zunehmen.
The doctor said the patient was too thin and needed to gain weight.
Typical collocations
In the context of nutrition, 'mager' is frequently combined with certain foods. Typical examples are 'mageres Fleisch' (lean meat), 'magerer Joghurt' (low-fat yogurt), 'Magerquark' (low-fat quark), or 'magere Milch' (low-fat milk).
EXAMPLE
Zum Frühstück esse ich gerne Magerquark mit Früchten.
For breakfast I like eating low-fat quark with fruit.
Typical collocations
In its figurative meaning, 'mager' is often used for abstract things. Common combinations are 'eine magere Ernte' (a meager harvest), 'ein mageres Gehalt' (a meager salary), or 'ein mageres Ergebnis' (a meager result).
EXAMPLE
Mit einem so mageren Lohn kann man kaum eine Familie ernähren.
With such a meager wage, you can hardly support a family.
Compare with
mager vs knapp
scarce / just under / close
'knapp' and 'mager' can both express that there is little of something. 'knapp' mainly says that the amount is just enough or almost not enough, for example money, time, or space. In its figurative meaning, 'mager' often sounds more negative: it means that a result, an offer, or an amount is disappointingly small. Learners may confuse the words because both can mean 'little'. As a guide: with resources like time or money, 'knapp' is very natural; with weak results or poor offers, 'mager' often fits.
mager
Die Ausbeute auf dem Flohmarkt war mager: Ich habe nur ein altes Buch gefunden.
The haul at the flea market was meager: I found only one old book.
knapp
Vor der Reise ist das Geld knapp, deshalb buchen wir ein günstiges Zimmer.
Money is tight before the trip, so we are booking an inexpensive room.
In real life
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