01
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
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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 Spur
track / trace
'die Spur' and 'der Schimmer' can both mean a very faint hint of something. 'eine Spur von etwas' is used for a small, barely noticeable amount or a slight sign. 'ein Schimmer' often sounds a bit more figurative and fits well with feelings, hope, or qualities. Learners may confuse the words because both express something faint. However, 'Schimmer' also has the concrete meaning of a faint light; 'Spur', by contrast, can also mean an imprint or a clue. In this relation, both words refer only to a slight touch or hint of something.
Schimmer
Als die Ärztin die guten Werte zeigte, sah man einen Schimmer von Hoffnung in seinen Augen.
When the doctor showed the good results, you could see a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
Spur
Nach dem langen Lauf war noch eine Spur von Müdigkeit in ihrem Gesicht.
After the long run, there was still a trace of tiredness on her face.
In real life
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