der Schnack
chat
An informal conversation or chat, especially in northern German usage.
EXAMPLE
Wir haben beim Kaffee noch einen gemütlichen Schnack gehalten.
We had a nice, relaxed chat over coffee.
der Schnack
chat / nonsense
der Schnack, die Schnäcke
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Meanings
der Schnack
nonsense
Talk or chatter with little substance or significance.
EXAMPLE
Er erzählt den ganzen Abend denselben Schnack.
He keeps repeating the same nonsense all evening.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Schnack, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| plural | die Schnäcke |
| genitive | des Schnacks |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Schnack | die Schnäcke die Schnacks |
| accusative | den Schnack | die Schnäcke die Schnacks |
| dative | dem Schnack | den Schnäcken den Schnacks |
| genitive | des Schnacks des Schnackes | der Schnäcke der Schnacks |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Regional usage
'Schnack' (chat / nonsense) is a colloquial word used especially in northern Germany. It is best suited to relaxed, personal conversations.
EXAMPLE
Im Urlaub an der Küste kamen wir schnell mit den Einheimischen ins Gespräch und hielten einen kurzen Schnack.
On vacation on the coast, we quickly got talking to the locals and had a short chat.
Typical collocations
For the sense of 'lockere Unterhaltung' (casual conversation), typical expressions include 'einen Schnack halten' (to have a chat), 'ein gemütlicher Schnack' (a relaxed chat), and 'bei einem Schnack' (while having a chat).
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Essen haben die Nachbarn noch einen langen Schnack im Garten gehalten.
After the meal, the neighbors had a long chat in the garden.
Context clue
Positive words such as 'gemütlich' (relaxed) or 'nett' (nice) usually indicate the sense of 'lockere Unterhaltung' (casual conversation). Words such as 'derselbe' (the same), 'leer' (empty), or 'erzählen' (to tell) can instead suggest that 'Schnack' (nonsense) is being used dismissively to mean empty talk.
EXAMPLE
Was er über seine angeblichen Erfolge erzählt, ist doch nur leerer Schnack.
What he says about his supposed successes is just empty nonsense.
In real life
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