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B1 adjective 8 Min. Lesezeit

smal

having a small distance from side to side

At the A1 level, you learn 'smal' as a simple word to describe objects. It is the opposite of 'bred' (wide). You use it for things like a 'smal vej' (narrow road) or a 'smal seng' (narrow bed). At this stage, you don't need to worry about the abstract meanings. Just focus on the physical width of things you see every day. Remember that if you are talking about 'en vej', it is 'smal', but if you talk about 'et hus', it is 'smalt'. It is one of the basic adjectives for dimensions, alongside 'stor' (big), 'lille' (small), and 'lang' (long). You might see it in simple picture books or when someone is giving you basic directions. If someone says 'Gå ned ad den smalle gade', they are telling you to walk down the narrow street. It is a very visual word that helps you build your basic vocabulary for describing your surroundings in Denmark.

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At the A2 level, you start using 'smal' in more varied sentences. You might use it to describe clothes, like 'en smal nederdel' (a narrow skirt) or 'smalle bukser' (narrow trousers). You also learn the plural form 'smalle'. For example, 'De smalle gader i den gamle by er smukke' (The narrow streets in the old town are beautiful). You begin to see 'smal' used in basic comparisons: 'Denne vej er smallere end den anden' (This road is narrower than the other). You might also encounter the common idiom 'en smal sag', which means something is very easy. If a friend asks if you can help them with homework, you might reply, 'Det er en smal sag!' (That's a piece of cake!). This shows you are moving beyond just physical descriptions and starting to use the word in social interactions.

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As a B1 learner, you use 'smal' with more precision. You understand the difference between 'smal' (narrow) and 'tynd' (thin). You can describe more complex situations, such as a 'smalt flertal' (a narrow majority) in a political context or a 'smalt udvalg' (a narrow selection) in a shop. You are comfortable with the declension: smal, smalt, and smalle. You also start to recognize 'smal' in professional or specific contexts, like 'en smal film' (a niche film). You can use it to describe abstract things like a 'smal tidsplan' (a tight schedule). At this level, you should be able to explain *why* something is 'smalt' and compare it to other things using the comparative 'smallere' and superlative 'smallest'. You are beginning to sound more like a native speaker by using the word in both physical and figurative ways.

At the B2 level, you use 'smal' fluently in academic and professional discussions. You might discuss 'smalle marginaler' (narrow margins) in a business report or a 'smal fortolkning' (a narrow interpretation) of a law or a text. You understand the subtle differences between 'smal', 'snæver', and 'trang'. You can use 'smal' to describe niche markets or specialized fields of research. Your vocabulary is rich enough to use 'smal' in complex sentence structures, such as 'På trods af det smalle budget lykkedes det dem at gennemføre projektet' (Despite the narrow budget, they managed to complete the project). You also recognize the word in literature, where it might be used to create a specific atmosphere or to describe a character's physical appearance in a more nuanced way than a beginner would.

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At the C1 level, you have a deep understanding of the stylistic nuances of 'smal'. You can use it to convey specific tones in your writing. You might use it in social critiques, discussing the 'smalle rammer' (narrow frameworks) of societal expectations. You are aware of how 'smal' can be used ironically or metaphorically in high-level Danish. You can distinguish between when to use 'smal' and when a more formal word like 'begrænset' (limited) or 'karrig' (meager) would be more appropriate. You can follow fast-paced debates about politics or economics where 'smalt flertal' or 'smalle vækstrater' are used without hesitation. Your use of the word is natural, and you can play with its meanings in creative writing or complex arguments.

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At the C2 level, you master 'smal' in all its forms, including rare or archaic uses in classical Danish literature. You understand its etymological roots and how it relates to other Germanic languages. You can use 'smal' to discuss highly abstract philosophical concepts, such as the 'smalle sti' (the narrow path) of virtue or morality. Your command of the word allows you to use it with perfect precision in any context, from technical engineering specifications to poetic descriptions. You can identify and use all associated idioms and collocations perfectly. For a C2 speaker, 'smal' is not just a word for width; it is a versatile tool for expressing fine distinctions in thought, space, and quantity.

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smal in 30 Sekunden

Smal means narrow or slender in Danish.
It is the direct opposite of 'bred' (wide).
It changes form based on gender: smal (en), smalt (et), smalle (plural).
It can describe physical width or abstract limitations like budgets.

The Danish adjective smal is a fundamental descriptor used to define spatial dimensions, specifically focusing on the horizontal distance between two points or boundaries. At its core, it translates to 'narrow' or 'slender'. In the physical world, it is the primary word used to describe a street that is difficult for two cars to pass through, a path in a forest, or the fit of a piece of clothing. However, its utility extends far beyond mere physical measurements. In Danish culture and language, 'smal' carries connotations of precision, limitation, and sometimes exclusivity.

Physical Dimension: Used for objects where the width is significantly less than the length, such as a hallway, a ribbon, or a bridge.

Abstract Scope: Used to describe a limited range of options, a tight budget, or a specialized field of study.

Stien gennem skoven er meget smal, så vi må gå én efter én.

When discussing the human form, 'smal' is often used to describe someone with a slender waist or narrow shoulders. Unlike the word 'tynd' (thin), which can sometimes imply frailty or a lack of substance, 'smal' is more descriptive of the frame itself. In architectural contexts, Denmark is famous for its historical 'smalle huse' (narrow houses) in cities like Copenhagen and Ribe, where space was historically at a premium. Understanding 'smal' is crucial for B1 learners because it allows for more precise descriptions than the basic 'lille' (small). In a figurative sense, you might hear about a 'smalt flertal' (a narrow majority) in a political debate, indicating that a decision was made by only a few votes. This versatility makes it a powerhouse in the Danish vocabulary.

Politikeren vandt med et meget smalt flertal ved valget.

Comparative Usage: The comparative form is 'smallere' and the superlative is 'smallest'. These are used frequently when comparing paths or options.

Using 'smal' correctly requires attention to the gender and number of the noun it modifies. As an adjective, it follows the standard Danish declension patterns. For common gender nouns (en-words), we use 'smal'. For neuter gender nouns (et-words), we add a 't' to make it 'smalt'. When the noun is plural or definite, we use 'smalle'.

Common Gender (en): En smal vej (A narrow road). Her, 'vej' is common gender, so 'smal' remains in its base form.

Det er en meget smal passage mellem bygningerne.

Neuter Gender (et): Et smalt bælte (A narrow belt). Since 'bælte' is neuter, we must add the 't' ending.

Vinduet i kælderen er ret smalt.

Plural and Definite: De smalle stier (The narrow paths). Den smalle dør (The narrow door). In both cases, the 'e' suffix is required.

Beyond physical objects, 'smal' is used in more complex sentence structures to describe abstract concepts. For instance, 'smalle marginaler' (narrow margins) is a common phrase in business and sports. It implies that there is very little room for error.

Vi arbejder med nogle meget smalle tidsrammer i dette projekt.

This sentence demonstrates how 'smal' can describe a 'timeframe', suggesting it is very limited or tight. Another important usage is when describing a 'smal film' (an art-house or niche film), which contrasts with a 'blockbuster'. Here, 'smal' suggests a limited target audience rather than physical width. Understanding these nuances helps a B1 student transition into more natural, native-like Danish.

In daily Danish life, you will encounter 'smal' in a variety of practical and social settings. If you are navigating an old city center like the Indre By in Copenhagen, you will frequently hear people say 'Pas på, vejen er meget smal' (Watch out, the road is very narrow) as they maneuver bicycles or cars. In the world of fashion and retail, 'smal' is a standard term. You might see labels for 'smal pasform' (slim fit) on shirts or trousers.

In the News: Journalists often use 'smalt flertal' when reporting on parliamentary votes where the government has only a few more votes than the opposition.

Regeringen blev vedtaget med et smalt flertal i går aftes.

In Interior Design: When shopping for furniture at IKEA or Jysk, you might look for a 'smal reol' (narrow bookshelf) to fit into a tight corner of a small Danish apartment.

Jeg har brug for en smal kommode til min gang.

You also hear it in sports commentary, particularly in sports like football (soccer) or cycling. Commentators might talk about a 'smal sejr' (a narrow victory), meaning the winning team only just managed to win, perhaps by a single goal. In cycling-obsessed Denmark, a 'smal vej' is a common point of discussion during races like the PostNord Danmark Rundt, as it affects how the peloton can move. Finally, in the arts, 'smal' describes niche culture. A 'smal bog' or 'smalt emne' refers to a book or topic that only interests a small, specialized group of people. This isn't necessarily negative; it often implies depth and high quality.

Det er et meget smalt emne, men det er utroligt spændende.

Everyday Idioms: The idiom 'det er en smal sag' is something you will hear constantly. It means 'it's a piece of cake' or 'it's very easy'.

For English speakers learning Danish, the most frequent mistake when using 'smal' is confusing it with other adjectives that describe size or thinness. Specifically, learners often mix up 'smal' with 'tynd' (thin) and 'lille' (small).

Smal vs. Tynd: 'Smal' refers to the distance between two sides (width). 'Tynd' refers to the thickness of a material or the weight of a person. You have a 'smal talje' (narrow waist) but a 'tynd bog' (thin book).

Forkert: Bogen er meget smal. Rigtigt: Bogen er meget tynd.

Smal vs. Lille: 'Lille' is a general term for small. 'Smal' is specific to width. A room might be 'lille' (small overall), but a hallway is 'smal' (narrow).

Værelset er smalt, men det er ikke nødvendigvis lille.

Another common error is forgetting the 't' in the neuter form. English adjectives don't change based on the noun, so remembering to say 'et smalt skab' instead of 'et smal skab' is a hurdle for many. Additionally, the comparative 'smallere' is often misspelled as 'smalere' (with only one 'l'). In Danish, when you add a suffix to a word ending in a consonant following a short vowel, you often need to double the consonant, but for 'smal', the 'l' is already there, and the 'e' is added—however, the vowel sound remains the same. Finally, don't use 'smal' to describe a person's intelligence or personality in the way English might use 'narrow-minded'. In Danish, we use 'snæversynet' for narrow-minded. Using 'smal' in that context would sound very strange to a native speaker.

Han er meget smal i sin tankegang. (Incorrect) -> Han er meget snæversynet. (Correct)

The Idiom Mistake: Learners sometimes translate 'a narrow escape' literally. In Danish, we say 'med nød og næppe' or 'at slippe med skrækken'. Saying 'en smal flugt' would be nonsensical.

To truly master 'smal', you should understand the words that surround it in the Danish 'spatial' vocabulary. The most direct synonym in many contexts is snæver. While 'smal' is often used for physical width, 'snæver' carries a stronger sense of being 'tight' or 'constricted'.

Smal vs. Snæver: 'Smal' is descriptive (a narrow road). 'Snæver' is often figurative or implies a sense of restriction (a narrow/snæver circle of friends, a narrow/snæver definition).

Vi har en snæver tidsplan i dag.

Another alternative is trang. This word translates to 'cramped' or 'narrow' and is almost always used when space is uncomfortably limited. You would say a room is 'trang' if you feel claustrophobic in it, whereas you would call it 'smal' simply to describe its shape.

Slank: When describing people, 'slank' (slim/slender) is often a more positive or aesthetic choice than 'smal'. 'Hun er smal om taljen' is descriptive, but 'Hun er slank' is a general compliment about her physique.

Modellen er meget slank og høj.

In the context of variety, the opposite of 'smal' is 'bred' (wide) or 'omfattende' (comprehensive). If a store has a 'smalt udvalg' (narrow selection), it means they only sell a few specific items. If they have a 'bredt udvalg', they have everything.

Karrig: This is a more advanced word meaning 'meager' or 'stingy'. It can be used as a very strong alternative to 'smal' when describing a budget or resources that are barely enough to survive on.

De lever under meget karrige kår.

How Formal Is It?

Formell

"Analysen baseres på et smalt metodisk grundlag."

Neutral

"Vejen er for smal til to biler."

Informell

"Det er en smal sag, jeg fikser det i morgen."

Child friendly

"Musen løb gennem det smalle hul."

Umgangssprache

"Det er lidt smalt med pengene lige nu."

Wusstest du?

In Old Danish, 'smal' could refer to livestock (smalkvæg), specifically sheep and goats, because they were 'smaller' than cows.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /smal/

US /smæl/

The stress is on the single syllable.

Reimt sich auf

dal sal tal val skal bal hal gal

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing the 'l' as a dark 'l' (like in English 'ball'). In Danish, the 'l' is always clear.
Making the 'a' sound too much like 'ah' (as in 'father'). It should be shorter and more fronted.
Forgetting to pronounce the 't' in 'smalt'.
Adding a 'sch' sound to the 's' (German influence).
Not distinguishing between the short 'a' in 'smal' and the longer 'a' in other words.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 2/5

Easy to recognize, but abstract meanings require context.

Schreiben 3/5

Requires correct gender and plural endings (smal/smalt/smalle).

Sprechen 2/5

Simple pronunciation, though the clear 'l' is important.

Hören 2/5

Commonly heard in many contexts, usually clear.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

bred vej lille stor hus

Als Nächstes lernen

snæver trang slank tynd flertal

Fortgeschritten

karrig niche marginal diskurs sprække

Wichtige Grammatik

Adjective Agreement (Gender)

En smal vej (common), et smalt hus (neuter).

Adjective Agreement (Number)

To smalle stier (plural).

Comparative Formation

Vej A er smallere end vej B.

Superlative Formation

Dette er den smallest mulige åbning.

Definite Adjective Form

Den smalle dør (always adds 'e').

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Beispiele nach Niveau

Vejen er smal.

The road is narrow.

Common gender adjective.

Det er et smalt bord.

It is a narrow table.

Neuter gender adjective with 't'.

Huset er smalt.

The house is narrow.

Neuter gender adjective.

Jeg har en smal seng.

I have a narrow bed.

Common gender adjective.

Gangen er smal.

The hallway is narrow.

Common gender adjective.

Er døren smal?

Is the door narrow?

Question form.

Se den smalle bro.

Look at the narrow bridge.

Definite form with 'e'.

Min cykel er smal.

My bike is narrow.

Common gender adjective.

De smalle gader er hyggelige.

The narrow streets are cozy.

Plural form.

Det er en smal sag at lave kaffe.

It is a piece of cake to make coffee.

Idiomatic expression.

Jeg køber en smal reol.

I am buying a narrow bookshelf.

Common gender.

Bukserne er for smalle til mig.

The trousers are too narrow for me.

Plural form.

Denne sti er meget smal.

This path is very narrow.

Common gender.

Find det smalle bælte.

Find the narrow belt.

Definite neuter form.

Vinduet er ret smalt.

The window is quite narrow.

Neuter gender.

Hun har smalle skuldre.

She has narrow shoulders.

Plural form.

Butikken har et smalt udvalg af sko.

The shop has a narrow selection of shoes.

Figurative use for 'limited'.

Vi vandt med et smalt flertal.

We won with a narrow majority.

Political/statistical use.

Det er en smal film for de få.

It is a niche film for the few.

Used for 'niche' or 'art-house'.

Vejen bliver smallere herfra.

The road becomes narrower from here.

Comparative form.

Han arbejder inden for et smalt område.

He works within a narrow field.

Figurative use for 'specialized'.

Tidsrammen er desværre meget smal.

The timeframe is unfortunately very narrow.

Abstract use for time.

De valgte den smalle vej til succes.

They chose the narrow path to success.

Metaphorical use.

Dette er det smallest mulige resultat.

This is the narrowest possible result.

Superlative form.

Projektet blev gennemført på et smalt budget.

The project was completed on a narrow budget.

Business context.

Der er smalle marginaler i denne branche.

There are narrow margins in this industry.

Economic context.

Han har en smal viden om emnet.

He has a narrow knowledge of the subject.

Describing depth vs. breadth.

Loven giver kun plads til en smal fortolkning.

The law only allows for a narrow interpretation.

Legal context.

Vi må fokusere på en smal målgruppe.

We must focus on a narrow target group.

Marketing context.

Hendes ansigt er smalt og markeret.

Her face is narrow and defined.

Descriptive aesthetic.

De smalle passager i teksten er svære at forstå.

The narrow passages in the text are hard to understand.

Literary context.

Det var en smal sejr i finalen.

It was a narrow victory in the final.

Sports context.

Debatten blev ført inden for nogle smalle rammer.

The debate was conducted within narrow frameworks.

Social/political critique.

Filmen henvender sig til et smalt, men dedikeret publikum.

The film appeals to a narrow but dedicated audience.

Nuanced cultural description.

Analysen lider under et smalt datagrundlag.

The analysis suffers from a narrow data basis.

Academic/scientific context.

Han bevæger sig på en smal sti mellem etik og profit.

He moves on a narrow path between ethics and profit.

Metaphorical complexity.

Byplanlægningen fokuserer på de smalle byrum.

Urban planning focuses on the narrow urban spaces.

Technical urban terminology.

Det smalle lysindfald skabte en dramatisk effekt.

The narrow light entry created a dramatic effect.

Artistic description.

Vi må ikke lade os begrænse af en smal horisont.

We must not let ourselves be limited by a narrow horizon.

Philosophical metaphor.

Sproget i digtet er præget af smalle, præcise vendinger.

The language in the poem is characterized by narrow, precise phrases.

Literary analysis.

Forfatteren udforsker den menneskelige eksistens' smalle sprækker.

The author explores the narrow cracks of human existence.

Highly poetic/philosophical.

Den smalle balancegang mellem kaos og orden er temaet.

The narrow balancing act between chaos and order is the theme.

Conceptual mastery.

En smal diskurs præger ofte den offentlige samtale.

A narrow discourse often characterizes public conversation.

Sociolinguistic terminology.

Han opererer i de smalle nicher af det globale marked.

He operates in the narrow niches of the global market.

Economic expertise.

Digtet bruger det smalle format til at skabe intensitet.

The poem uses the narrow format to create intensity.

Formal literary analysis.

Det er en smal sag for en ekspert, men en gåde for lægmanden.

It is a simple matter for an expert, but a riddle for the layman.

Sophisticated use of idiom.

De smalle stier i historien fører ofte til store opdagelser.

The narrow paths of history often lead to great discoveries.

Historical metaphor.

Vi må navigere gennem det smalle sund med stor forsigtighed.

We must navigate through the narrow strait with great caution.

Literal and metaphorical precision.

Häufige Kollokationen

smal vej

smalt flertal

smal sag

smalt udvalg

smal film

smal talje

smalt budget

smal sti

smalle skuldre

smal stribe

Häufige Phrasen

En smal sag

Den smalle vej

Smalle tider

Et smalt smil

Smalle marginaler

I en smal vending

Smalt fundament

Smalle ruder

Smalt perspektiv

Smal pasform

Wird oft verwechselt mit

smal vs tynd

Tynd refers to thickness (like paper) or body weight. Smal refers to width.

smal vs lille

Lille is overall small size. Smal is specifically narrow width.

smal vs snæver

Snæver often implies tightness or abstract limitation, whereas smal is more neutral.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"Det er en smal sag"

It's a piece of cake / easy as pie.

Det er en smal sag at bage en kage.

Informal

"Den smalle sti"

The path of righteousness or the difficult road.

Hold dig til den smalle sti.

Literary/Religious

"At leve på en smal kost"

To live on very little food or money.

Som studerende lever man ofte på en smal kost.

Neutral

"Gå den smalle vej"

To choose the harder, more disciplined option.

Han valgte at gå den smalle vej i sin karriere.

Metaphorical

"Smalle kår"

Living in poverty or very modest conditions.

De voksede op under smalle kår.

Formal

"Et smalt flertal"

A very small majority in a vote.

Regeringen overlevede med et smalt flertal.

Political

"Det er smalt"

That's tight/tough (referring to money or space).

Det bliver smalt at nå toget.

Informal

"Smal i betrækket"

Looking pale, thin, or worried in the face.

Han så lidt smal ud i betrækket efter sygdommen.

Colloquial

"En smal film"

An art-house film with limited appeal.

Vi så en smal fransk film i går.

Cultural

"At have en smal horisont"

To be narrow-minded or have limited experience.

Rejser hjælper mod en smal horisont.

Neutral

Leicht verwechselbar

smal vs tynd

Both can describe a person's body.

Smal describes the frame/width (narrow shoulders). Tynd describes the lack of fat or mass (thin).

Hun er smal over hofterne, men han er generelt tynd.

smal vs kort

Both are dimensions.

Kort is short (length). Smal is narrow (width).

Blyanten er kort og smal.

smal vs trang

Both describe limited space.

Trang implies a feeling of being cramped or squeezed. Smal is just a measurement.

Gangen er smal, men stuen føles trang.

smal vs lille

General vs specific size.

Lille is the opposite of 'stor'. Smal is the opposite of 'bred'.

Et lille vindue kan godt være bredt, men et smalt vindue er altid smalt.

smal vs snæver

Synonyms in many contexts.

Snæver is often used for abstract things like 'snæversynet' (narrow-minded). Smal is rarely used for personality.

En snæver definition vs en smal vej.

Satzmuster

[Noun] er smal/smalt.

Sengen er smal.

Det er en smal sag at [verb].

Det er en smal sag at læse.

Et smalt udvalg af [noun].

Et smalt udvalg af bøger.

Vinde med et smalt [noun].

Vinde med et smalt flertal.

Inden for [adjective] smalle rammer.

Inden for de smalle rammer af loven.

Den smalle balancegang mellem [noun] og [noun].

Den smalle balancegang mellem frihed og ansvar.

[Noun] bliver smallere.

Stien bliver smallere.

De smalle [noun]er.

De smalle gader.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

Verben

Adjektive

Verwandt

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So verwendest du es

frequency

Very high in both spoken and written Danish.

Häufige Fehler

En tynd vej → En smal vej
Roads have width (smal), not thickness (tynd).
Et smal vindue → Et smalt vindue
Neuter nouns require the 't' ending on the adjective.
Han er smal i hovedet → Han er snæversynet
To describe someone as narrow-minded, use the specific compound word 'snæversynet'.
Bogen er smal → Bogen er tynd
Unless the book is physically narrow in width, we usually use 'tynd' to mean it has few pages.
En smal flugt → At slippe med nød og næppe
The English idiom 'a narrow escape' does not translate literally with 'smal'.

Tipps

Remember the 't'

Always check if your noun is 'en' or 'et'. 'Et smalt bord' is a common point where learners forget the 't'.

Smal vs Tynd

Think of 'smal' as horizontal width and 'tynd' as depth or thickness. This helps you choose the right word for objects.

Easy as Pie

Memorize 'Det er en smal sag'. It's a very 'Danish' way to say something is easy and will make you sound more natural.

Old Towns

When visiting old Danish towns, use 'smal' to describe the streets. It's the perfect adjective for the historical atmosphere.

Niche Art

If you see the word 'smal' in a cultural magazine, it likely means 'niche' or 'art-house', not that the magazine itself is thin.

Double L

The comparative 'smallere' and superlative 'smallest' always keep the 'll'. Don't drop one!

Describing People

Use 'smal om taljen' (narrow at the waist). It's a precise way to describe a silhouette.

Election Speak

Watch for 'smalt flertal' in news. It's the standard term for a close vote.

Bred vs Smal

Learn these two as a pair. Whenever you see a 'bred vej', imagine its opposite, a 'smal vej'.

Don't use for 'Narrow-minded'

Remember to use 'snæversynet' for narrow-minded. 'Smal' is almost never used for personality.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of a 'Small' 'M'al (Mall). If the mall is 'smal', you can barely walk through the aisles because they are so narrow.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a very narrow street in Copenhagen with colorful houses. The street is so 'smal' that only a bicycle can fit.

Word Web

Vej Sti Bælte Talje Flertal Budget Udvalg Film

Herausforderung

Try to find three things in your room that are 'smalle' and describe them in Danish to a friend.

Wortherkunft

Derived from Old Norse 'smalr'. It shares roots with the English word 'small', though the meaning in Danish shifted specifically towards 'narrow' while English kept the general 'little' meaning.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: Small, little, or thin.

Germanic

Kultureller Kontext

When describing people, 'smal' is generally neutral, but 'slank' is more complimentary. Avoid using 'smal' to describe someone's mind, as it sounds awkward; use 'snæversynet' instead.

English speakers often use 'small' for everything, but in Danish, you must distinguish between 'lille' (size) and 'smal' (width).

Den smalle sti (Religious/Literary metaphor) Smalle huse i Nyhavn (Architectural icon) Smalt flertal (Common political headline)

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Driving/Navigation

Vær forsigtig, vejen er smal.
Kan bilen komme igennem den smalle passage?
Vejen bliver smallere længere fremme.
Det er en meget smal bro.

Shopping for Furniture

Jeg har brug for en smal reol.
Er dette bord for smalt til stuen?
Vi leder efter et smalt skab.
De har kun smalle senge i denne butik.

Politics/News

Partiet vandt med et smalt flertal.
Der er en smal margin i meningsmålingerne.
Regeringen har et smalt mandat.
Beslutningen blev truffet på et smalt grundlag.

Fashion/Clothing

Disse bukser har en smal pasform.
Jeg foretrækker et smalt bælte.
Skjorten er for smal over skuldrene.
Hun bærer en smal nederdel.

Business/Finance

Vi arbejder med et smalt budget.
Marginalerne er meget smalle i år.
Vi må fokusere på et smalt marked.
Tidsplanen er meget smal.

Gesprächseinstiege

"Synes du, at gaderne i København er for smalle?"

"Er det en smal sag for dig at lære dansk?"

"Foretrækker du brede eller smalle bælter?"

"Har du nogensinde set en meget smal film, som du kunne lide?"

"Hvad gør du, hvis du har et meget smalt budget en måned?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Beskriv en gang, hvor du skulle gå gennem en meget smal passage. Hvordan føltes det?

Er der noget i dit liv lige nu, som er 'en smal sag' for dig? Hvorfor?

Diskuter fordele og ulemper ved at bo i et smalt hus.

Hvad betyder det for dig at 'gå den smalle vej' i livet?

Beskriv en film eller en bog, som du synes er 'smal', og forklar hvorfor.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Du bruger 'smalt', når det ord, du beskriver, er et intetkønsord (et-ord). For eksempel: 'Et smalt bælte' eller 'Huset er smalt'. For fælleskønsord (en-ord) bruger du 'smal', som i 'En smal vej'.

Ja, man kan sige 'hun er smal om taljen' eller 'han har smalle skuldre'. Det er en neutral beskrivelse af kropsbygningen. Hvis du vil give et kompliment om vægt, bruger man ofte 'slank'.

Det er et fast udtryk (idiom), der betyder, at noget er meget nemt at gøre. Det svarer til det engelske 'a piece of cake'. For eksempel: 'Det er en smal sag at cykle til byen'.

Nej. 'Smal' handler om bredde (narrow). 'Tynd' handler om tykkelse eller vægt (thin). En bog kan være 'tynd' (få sider), men den kan også være 'smal' (lille bredde).

Det direkte modsatte af 'smal' er 'bred' (wide). Hvis man taler om udvalg eller viden, kan man også bruge 'omfattende' (comprehensive).

I flertal tilføjer man et 'e', så det bliver 'smalle'. For eksempel: 'De smalle gader'. Dette gælder også i bestemt form: 'Den smalle vej'.

Man kan godt, men det lyder lidt mærkeligt. Det er bedre at sige 'en smalbygget mand' eller 'en slank mand', hvis man beskriver hans figur.

Det betyder en film, som ikke er lavet til det store publikum (ikke en blockbuster). Det er ofte kunstneriske film eller film om meget specielle emner.

Det hedder 'smallere' med to l'er. Man beholder de to l'er fra grundformen 'smal', når man tilføjer '-ere'.

Ja, meget ofte. Det bruges om budgetter (smalt budget), flertal ved valg (smalt flertal) og tidsplaner (smal tidsplan) for at vise, at der er meget lidt af noget.

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