der Schimmer
shimmer
A faint, often flickering or gentle light; a slight shine on a surface.
EXAMPLE
Durch die Wolken drang nur ein schwacher Schimmer des Mondes.
Only a faint shimmer of the moon came through the clouds.
der Schimmer
shimmer
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Meanings
der Schimmer
glimmer
In a figurative sense, a faint hint or trace of a feeling or quality.
EXAMPLE
Trotz der schlechten Nachrichten hatte sie noch einen Schimmer von Hoffnung.
Despite the bad news, she still had a glimmer of hope.
Usage tips
Word family
The noun 'der Schimmer' (the shimmer) is closely related to the verb 'schimmern' (to shimmer). While the verb describes the process of glowing faintly, the noun refers to the light or shine itself.
EXAMPLE
Die Seide hatte einen eleganten Schimmer.
The silk had an elegant shimmer.
Fixed expression
A very common idiom is 'nicht den Schimmer einer Ahnung haben' (not to have the faintest idea). It means that someone knows absolutely nothing about a topic.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe nicht den Schimmer einer Ahnung, wie dieses Gerät funktioniert.
I don't have the faintest idea how this device works.
Context clue
The preposition 'von' (of) helps distinguish the meanings. A 'Schimmer von' (glimmer of) followed by an abstract noun, e.g. hope or irony, points to the figurative meaning. Without this construction, it is usually about real light.
EXAMPLE
Ein Schimmer von Hoffnung blitzte in ihren Augen auf.
A glimmer of hope flashed in her eyes.
Typical collocations
In its literal meaning, 'Schimmer' (shimmer) is often combined with adjectives such as 'schwach' (faint), 'leicht' (slight), 'golden' (golden), or 'silbrig' (silvery). It often describes the light of the moon, stars, or candles.
EXAMPLE
Nur ein schwacher Schimmer der Straßenlaterne fiel ins Zimmer.
Only a faint shimmer from the streetlamp fell into the room.
Compare with
Schimmer vs Schein
bill / glow / appearance
Schein is the light coming from a light source and can illuminate an area so that it becomes visible. Schimmer, on the other hand, is a weak, gentle, or flickering glow. Schein is appropriate when the source or its illumination is important; Schimmer is used for a barely visible, delicate light effect.
Schimmer
Nur ein schwacher Schimmer der Kerze ist hinter dem Vorhang zu sehen.
Only a faint glow from the candle can be seen behind the curtain.
Schein
Der Schein der Kerze beleuchtet den kleinen Tisch.
The candlelight illuminates the small table.
In real life
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