dünn
/dʏn/
The English word "skinny" can be translated into German as dünn.
It is also used to describe people.
Meaning: thin (adj)
Which one should you use?
While dünn can sometimes sound negative or imply someone is underweight, schlank is used to describe someone who is slim or slender in a positive or neutral way. If you want to use a stronger, more negative term to describe someone who looks unhealthily thin or bony, you would use mager.
How does it change in a sentence?
The comparative form of dünn is dünner (thinner), and the superlative form is am dünnsten (thinnest).
How do you pronounce it?
/dʏn/
Did you know?
- The word mager, used for someone unhealthily skinny, is also the term used for 'lean' meat in a culinary context.
- In German, the expression eine dünne Suppe can be used idiomatically to describe a very poor or meager meal.
- German uses dünn to describe a voice that lacks depth, whereas English would typically call such a voice 'thin' or 'reedy'.
Examples in context
- Du bist zu dünn!You are too skinny!This sentence uses dünn to express that someone is too skinny.Tatoeba #12183801 by petersauer, translation #1405942 by marcelostockle
- Ich war mal dünn.I used to be skinny.This sentence uses dünn to talk about being skinny in the past.Tatoeba #5962898 by BlundaInte, translation #5958288 by CK
- Du bist sehr dünn.You're very skinny.This sentence uses dünn to state that someone is very skinny.Tatoeba #12183802 by petersauer, translation #12183843 by Miktsoanit
- Sie ist dünn wie ein Model.She is as skinny as a model.
- Er ist sportlich und schlank.He is athletic and slender.
- Ihre Figur ist wirklich schlank und schön.Her figure is truly slender and beautiful.
- Schau ihn an, er ist so mager wie ein Lauch.Look at him, he is as skinny as a beanpole.
- Sie ist echt mager geworden.She has really gotten skinny.
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas is looking at a slice of bread Sarah made.
- SarahMöchtest du das Brot essen?Do you want to eat the bread?
- LukasJa, aber die Scheibe ist sehr dünn.Yes, but the slice is very thin.
- SarahIch habe es dünn geschnitten.I cut it thin.
- LukasDas ist okay für mich.That is okay for me.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry dünn, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
