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A2 adjective #3,000 le plus courant 14 min de lecture

flach

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces flach en 30 secondes
Explication flach in your Level:
At the A1 level, your primary goal is to learn basic vocabulary to describe the world around you. The word 'flach' is introduced as a simple adjective meaning 'flat'. You will use it mostly to describe everyday objects and basic geography. For example, when learning about household items, you will learn the difference between a 'flacher Teller' (a flat plate for main courses) and a 'tiefer Teller' (a deep plate or bowl for soup). You will also use it to describe the landscape. If you look at a picture of the Netherlands or northern Germany, you can say 'Das Land ist flach' (The land is flat). This helps you practice basic sentence structures with the verb 'sein' (to be). At this stage, you do not need to worry about the complex figurative meanings. Just focus on the physical concept of something not being tall, deep, or mountainous. Practice combining 'flach' with basic nouns: der Tisch ist flach, das Buch ist flach, das Land ist flach. This builds a strong foundation for understanding spatial adjectives in German. You will also practice basic adjective endings if 'flach' comes before the noun, such as 'ein flacher Tisch'. Keep it simple and literal.
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At the A2 level, your understanding of 'flach' expands significantly. You already know it means 'flat' for landscapes and plates, but now you must learn its second crucial meaning: 'shallow'. This is vital for everyday situations, especially regarding safety and recreation. When you go to a swimming pool (das Schwimmbad) or the beach (der Strand), you need to know where the 'flaches Wasser' (shallow water) is, especially if you have children. You will practice sentences like 'Wir schwimmen im flachen Wasser' (We are swimming in the shallow water). Additionally, you will start using 'flach' with modern technology, such as 'der Flachbildschirm' (flat screen). Grammatically, A2 is where you master adjective declension. You must practice adding the correct endings to 'flach' depending on the case (Nominative, Accusative, Dative). For example, 'Ich kaufe einen flachen Teller' (Accusative masculine). You will also learn the comparative and superlative forms: flach, flacher, am flachsten. Remember the crucial rule: do NOT add an umlaut. It is 'flacher', not 'flächer'. By mastering both the 'flat' and 'shallow' meanings, and applying correct grammar, you will use 'flach' confidently in daily A2-level conversations.
At the B1 level, you are transitioning from simple descriptions to expressing opinions, making plans, and understanding colloquial German. The word 'flach' becomes much more dynamic. You will start using the separable verbs 'flachfallen' and 'flachliegen'. These are incredibly common in spoken German. If your weekend plans are canceled because of rain, you say, 'Das Picknick fällt leider flach'. If you catch a cold and cannot go to work, you tell your boss, 'Ich liege mit Grippe flach'. Mastering these expressions makes your German sound much more natural and fluent. Furthermore, you will encounter 'flach' in social contexts to describe humor. A 'flacher Witz' is a corny or bad joke. You can react to a friend's bad pun by saying, 'Der Witz war echt flach'. At B1, you also refine your ability to distinguish 'flach' from similar words like 'platt' (used for a flat tire: ein platter Reifen) and 'eben' (even surface). You are no longer just describing physical objects; you are using 'flach' to navigate social situations, explain cancellations, describe illnesses, and critique humor, demonstrating a solid intermediate grasp of the language.
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At the B2 level, your vocabulary must accommodate professional environments, abstract concepts, and nuanced media consumption. The word 'flach' is essential in the modern German workplace. You will frequently encounter and use the term 'flache Hierarchien' (flat hierarchies). When discussing corporate culture, reading job advertisements, or participating in business meetings, describing a company as having 'flache Hierarchien' implies a modern, communicative, and less authoritarian structure. You might say, 'Ich arbeite gerne hier, weil wir flache Hierarchien haben'. Additionally, you will encounter the synonym 'seicht' in media criticism. While 'flach' can mean shallow water, 'seicht' is used to describe shallow, superficial entertainment (ein seichter Film, seichte Unterhaltung). You will also use 'flach' in more complex medical or physical descriptions, such as 'flache Atmung' (shallow breathing). At this level, your grammatical control of 'flach' (declensions, comparatives without umlauts) should be automatic. Your focus shifts entirely to employing the word in abstract, professional, and idiomatic contexts, proving that you can navigate complex German texts and professional conversations with ease and precision.
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At the C1 level, you possess an advanced, near-native command of German. Your use of 'flach' involves subtle stylistic choices, advanced idioms, and a deep understanding of register. You effortlessly distinguish between 'flach', 'seicht', 'eben', 'platt', and 'plan' based on the exact technical, literary, or colloquial context. You understand phrases like 'den Ball flach halten' (to keep a low profile, to not overreact), which originates from football but is widely used in business and politics. For example, during a corporate crisis, a manager might advise, 'Wir müssen jetzt erst mal den Ball flach halten'. You also recognize the use of 'flach' in compound adjectives like 'flachabfallend' (gently sloping, used in geography or real estate). In literary or academic texts, you can analyze the metaphorical use of flatness to describe emotional states or societal structures. Your use of 'flachfallen' and 'flachliegen' is perfectly integrated into complex sentence structures, including passive voice and subjunctive moods (Konjunktiv II). At C1, 'flach' is a tool for precise articulation, allowing you to convey exact spatial dimensions, critique intellectual depth, and navigate complex social dynamics with idiomatic flair.
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At the C2 level, your mastery of 'flach' is indistinguishable from a highly educated native speaker. You command the absolute full range of its semantic field, from the most technical jargon to the most obscure regional idioms. You understand the etymological roots of the word and how it relates to other Germanic languages. You can employ 'flach' in sophisticated rhetorical devices, using its literal meaning of 'flatness' to create powerful metaphors about societal homogenization or intellectual stagnation. You are comfortable with highly specialized compounds like 'Flachwurzler' (shallow-rooted plants, used in botany and forestry) or 'Flachrelief' (bas-relief, used in art history). You intuitively know when a text uses 'flach' to evoke a specific mood, such as the bleak, endless expanse of a flat landscape in a German novel. You can debate the nuances between 'seicht', 'trivial', 'banal', and 'flach' when writing academic critiques of literature or philosophy. At this pinnacle of language proficiency, 'flach' is not just a vocabulary word; it is a conceptual building block that you manipulate with absolute precision, elegance, and cultural resonance across all conceivable domains of the German language.
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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

flach en 30 secondes

  • Means 'flat' for landscapes, objects, and surfaces.
  • Means 'shallow' when referring to water or breathing.
  • Used in business to describe 'flat hierarchies' (flache Hierarchien).
  • Used in verbs 'flachfallen' (cancel) and 'flachliegen' (sick in bed).
The German adjective 'flach' is an incredibly versatile and frequently used word that primarily translates to 'flat' or 'shallow' in English. Understanding the full spectrum of its meanings is essential for mastering German at an A2 level and beyond. At its core, 'flach' describes a physical surface that is even, level, and without significant elevations or depressions. When you look at a landscape, such as the northern regions of Germany or the entirety of the Netherlands, you would describe it as 'flach'. This physical flatness is the most literal and common application of the word. However, the utility of 'flach' extends far beyond just describing terrain. It is equally important when discussing bodies of water. In this context, 'flach' translates to 'shallow'. A 'flaches Wasser' is water that is not deep, making it safe for children to wade in. This dual meaning of flat and shallow is a classic example of how German vocabulary often relies on spatial concepts to convey multiple English equivalents.

Das Land im Norden von Deutschland ist sehr flach.

Physical Terrain
Used to describe landscapes, roads, or surfaces that lack hills, mountains, or bumps. It implies a smooth, horizontal plane.
Beyond physical landscapes and water depth, 'flach' is used to describe objects that have a low profile or minimal thickness. A 'flacher Bildschirm' refers to a flat-screen television or monitor, a ubiquitous term in modern technology. Similarly, a 'flacher Teller' is a flat plate, as opposed to a deep soup bowl.

Wir brauchen einen flachen Teller für die Pizza.

The figurative uses of 'flach' are just as prevalent and arguably more interesting for language learners. When applied to breathing, 'flach atmen' means to breathe shallowly, often a symptom of panic, illness, or exhaustion.

Der Patient atmet sehr flach und schnell.

Figurative Shallowness
Used to describe things lacking intellectual depth, such as a bad joke or a superficial conversation.
In social and professional contexts, 'flach' takes on another crucial meaning. A 'flache Hierarchie' (flat hierarchy) is a common buzzword in modern corporate German, describing a company structure with few levels of middle management between staff and executives.

Unser Start-up hat sehr flache Hierarchien.

Furthermore, 'flach' is frequently used to describe humor. A 'flacher Witz' is a flat, shallow, or corny joke—often a pun that elicits a groan rather than a laugh.
Corporate & Social
Describes organizational structures (flat hierarchies) or the quality of humor (corny, lacking wit).

Das war wirklich ein sehr flacher Witz.

To truly grasp 'flach', one must appreciate its ability to transition seamlessly from the literal to the metaphorical. Whether you are navigating the shallow end of a swimming pool, driving across the flat plains of Lower Saxony, enduring a corny joke from a colleague, or enjoying the egalitarian structure of a modern tech company, 'flach' is the adjective that bridges these diverse experiences. Its antonyms—tief (deep) and steil (steep) or bergig (mountainous)—further highlight its specific spatial and conceptual boundaries. Mastering 'flach' enriches your descriptive capabilities, allowing for more precise and nuanced communication in both everyday conversations and professional environments.
Using the adjective 'flach' correctly in German requires an understanding of both its grammatical behavior and its contextual collocations. As a standard German adjective, 'flach' follows all the regular rules of adjective declension. When it precedes a noun, its ending must change to match the gender, number, and case of that noun, as well as the type of article preceding it. For instance, in the nominative case, you would say 'der flache See' (the shallow lake - masculine), 'die flache Landschaft' (the flat landscape - feminine), 'das flache Wasser' (the shallow water - neuter), and 'die flachen Teller' (the flat plates - plural).

Wir wandern durch das flache Land.

Adjective Declension
Remember to apply strong, weak, or mixed declension endings based on the preceding article (der/die/das, ein/eine/ein, or no article).
When used as a predicative adjective (after verbs like sein, werden, bleiben), 'flach' remains uninflected. For example, 'Das Wasser ist flach' (The water is shallow) or 'Die Hierarchie bleibt flach' (The hierarchy remains flat). This is a fundamental rule of German grammar that applies universally, but it is especially important to practice with high-frequency words like 'flach'.

Der See ist hier sehr flach.

Beyond basic grammar, mastering 'flach' involves knowing its comparative and superlative forms. The comparative is 'flacher' (flatter/shallower) and the superlative is 'am flachsten' (flattest/shallowest). Notice that unlike some German adjectives (e.g., alt -> älter), 'flach' does NOT take an umlaut in its comparative or superlative forms. This is a common stumbling block for learners who over-apply the umlaut rule.

Dieser Teller ist flacher als der andere.

Comparative Forms
flach -> flacher -> am flachsten. No umlaut is added to the 'a' during comparison.
In terms of usage, 'flach' frequently appears in compound nouns and fixed expressions. For example, 'das Flachland' refers to the lowlands or plains. 'Der Flachbildschirm' is the standard term for a flat-screen monitor. Understanding these compounds expands your vocabulary exponentially.

Er hat sich einen neuen Flachbildschirm gekauft.

Furthermore, 'flach' is used in several common verbs and verbal phrases. 'Flachfallen' is a separable verb used colloquially to mean that an event or plan is canceled. 'Das Meeting fällt heute flach' means the meeting is canceled today. Another common phrase is 'flachliegen', which means to be laid up in bed, usually due to illness. 'Ich liege mit Grippe flach' translates to 'I am laid up with the flu'.
Colloquial Verbs
flachfallen (to be canceled) and flachliegen (to be sick in bed) are essential for everyday conversational German.

Wegen des Regens muss das Picknick leider flachfallen.

To use 'flach' effectively, you must integrate it into your active vocabulary across these various contexts. Practice declining it with different nouns, using it in comparisons without the umlaut, and incorporating colloquial phrases like 'flachfallen' into your daily speech. By doing so, you transition from simply recognizing the word to wielding it with native-like precision. Whether you are describing geography, technology, corporate structures, or your weekend plans, 'flach' provides the linguistic flexibility needed to express yourself clearly and accurately in German.
The adjective 'flach' is ubiquitous in the German-speaking world, appearing in a wide array of contexts ranging from casual daily conversations to specialized professional jargon. One of the most common places you will hear 'flach' is in geographical and meteorological descriptions. Germany's topography is incredibly diverse, and the contrast between the mountainous south (the Alps) and the flat north is a frequent topic of conversation. When traveling through states like Schleswig-Holstein or Lower Saxony, you will constantly hear the landscape described as 'flach'.

Norddeutschland ist bekannt für sein flaches Land.

Geography
Frequently used in weather reports, travel guides, and casual conversations about the landscape of northern Germany and neighboring countries.
In everyday domestic life, 'flach' is used to differentiate between household items. When setting the table, a German speaker will ask for a 'flacher Teller' (flat plate) for the main course, as opposed to a 'tiefer Teller' (deep plate/bowl) for soup. In electronics stores, you will see and hear 'flach' used constantly in the context of 'Flachbildfernseher' (flat-screen TVs).

Gib mir bitte einen flachen Teller für das Fleisch.

Another extremely common environment where 'flach' is heard is at the swimming pool or the beach. Parents will constantly remind their children to stay in the 'flaches Wasser' (shallow water) for safety. The non-swimmer section of a pool is often referred to as the 'Flachwasserbecken'.

Kinder dürfen nur im flachen Wasser spielen.

Recreation & Safety
Crucial vocabulary for swimming pools, beaches, and maritime contexts to indicate safe, shallow areas.
Moving into the professional sphere, 'flach' is a cornerstone of modern corporate vocabulary. In job interviews, company presentations, and business meetings, the phrase 'flache Hierarchien' (flat hierarchies) is used to attract talent by implying a modern, egalitarian workplace culture where communication flows freely between entry-level employees and management.

Wir bieten ein tolles Team und flache Hierarchien.

In social settings, particularly among friends, you will hear 'flach' used to critique humor. A 'flacher Witz' is the German equivalent of a dad joke or a corny pun. If someone tells a joke that is considered uninspired or overly simplistic, the immediate response is often 'Der war aber flach!' (That was really flat/corny!).
Social Interaction
Used to describe humor that lacks depth or wit, similar to 'corny' or 'lame' in English.

Dein Humor ist manchmal wirklich zu flach.

Finally, in casual, everyday planning, the colloquial expressions 'flachfallen' and 'flachliegen' are ubiquitous. If a concert is canceled, a German friend will text you: 'Das Konzert fällt heute flach'. If they are sick, they will say: 'Ich liege krank flach'. These expressions are deeply ingrained in the daily rhythm of the language. By paying attention to these diverse contexts—from geography and household chores to corporate culture and casual banter—you will quickly realize that 'flach' is an indispensable part of the German linguistic landscape.
While 'flach' is a relatively straightforward adjective, English speakers and other learners of German frequently make several specific mistakes when using it. The most prominent error stems from the dual meaning of 'flach' as both 'flat' and 'shallow'. Because English uses two distinct words for these concepts, learners often hesitate or use the wrong word when trying to translate 'shallow'. A common mistake is trying to invent a word like 'unschwer' or misusing 'seicht' in contexts where 'flach' is the more natural and common choice. For instance, when talking about shallow water, 'flaches Wasser' is the standard expression.

Falsch: Das Wasser ist nicht tief. Richtig: Das Wasser ist flach.

Translation Interference
Learners often forget that 'flach' means 'shallow' and try to use awkward circumlocutions to describe water depth.
Another frequent grammatical mistake involves the comparative and superlative forms of 'flach'. Many one-syllable German adjectives with the vowel 'a', 'o', or 'u' take an umlaut in their comparative forms (e.g., lang -> länger, groß -> größer). Learners naturally, but incorrectly, apply this rule to 'flach', resulting in the non-existent words 'flächer' or 'am flächsten'. The correct forms are strictly 'flacher' and 'am flachsten'.

Falsch: Mein Teller ist flächer. Richtig: Mein Teller ist flacher.

Mistakes also occur frequently with the colloquial verbs 'flachfallen' and 'flachliegen'. Because these are separable verbs, learners often forget to separate the prefix 'flach' in main clauses. A student might say 'Das Meeting flachfällt heute' instead of the correct 'Das Meeting fällt heute flach'.
Separable Verb Errors
Failing to separate 'flach' from the verb stem in present and simple past tenses.

Falsch: Ich flachliege im Bett. Richtig: Ich liege im Bett flach.

Additionally, learners sometimes confuse 'flach' with 'eben'. While both can mean 'flat' or 'level', 'eben' is more strictly used for surfaces that are perfectly smooth and horizontal (like a floor or a mathematical plane), whereas 'flach' can describe a general landscape that lacks mountains, even if it has minor bumps. Furthermore, 'eben' functions as a modal particle meaning 'just' or 'exactly', which 'flach' never does.

Die Oberfläche des Tisches ist ganz flach (oder eben).

Finally, a subtle semantic mistake occurs when learners try to use 'flach' to describe a flat tire. In English, we say 'I have a flat tire'. In German, you do NOT say 'Ich habe einen flachen Reifen'. The correct expression is 'Ich habe einen platten Reifen' or simply 'Ich habe einen Platten'. Using 'flach' in this context immediately marks the speaker as a non-native translating directly from English.
The Flat Tire Trap
Never use 'flach' for a flat tire. Always use 'platt' or 'ein Platter'.

Falsch: Mein Reifen ist flach. Richtig: Mein Reifen ist platt.

By being aware of these common pitfalls—remembering the 'shallow' translation, avoiding the umlaut in comparisons, correctly separating verbs, distinguishing it from 'eben', and avoiding the flat tire trap—you can use 'flach' with confidence and accuracy.
To build a robust German vocabulary, it is crucial to understand not just a word, but its synonyms and related terms. The adjective 'flach' exists in a semantic field with several other words that describe flatness, shallowness, or superficiality. Understanding the nuances between these words will elevate your German from functional to fluent. The most direct synonym for 'flach' in the sense of a physical surface is 'eben'. 'Eben' translates to 'even' or 'level'. While a 'flache Landschaft' (flat landscape) might still have tiny irregularities, an 'ebene Fläche' (even surface) implies mathematical smoothness.

Der Boden in der Halle ist vollkommen eben.

Eben vs. Flach
'Eben' emphasizes smoothness and levelness, while 'flach' emphasizes the lack of height or depth.
Another important related word is 'platt'. 'Platt' is often used colloquially to mean flat, especially when something has been flattened or squashed. As mentioned in the common mistakes section, a flat tire is a 'platter Reifen', never a 'flacher Reifen'. 'Platt' can also describe a feeling of extreme exhaustion ('Ich bin total platt' - I am completely exhausted).

Nach dem Marathon war ich völlig platt.

When 'flach' is used to mean 'shallow' in the context of water, a more literary or specific synonym is 'seicht'. 'Seichtes Wasser' means exactly the same as 'flaches Wasser'. However, 'seicht' is frequently used in a figurative sense to describe something that is intellectually shallow, superficial, or lacking substance. A 'seichter Film' is a shallow, light entertainment movie.
Seicht vs. Flach
'Seicht' is a more elegant word for shallow water and is heavily used to criticize superficial media or conversations.

Die Handlung des Buches war mir zu seicht.

For the figurative meaning of 'flach' (as in a flat joke), the word 'oberflächlich' (superficial) is a key related term. While a 'flacher Witz' is just a corny joke, an 'oberflächlicher Mensch' is a superficial person who only cares about appearances. 'Oberflächlich' literally means 'on the surface' and is the perfect antonym for 'tiefgründig' (profound).

Ihre Analyse des Problems war sehr oberflächlich.

Finally, the word 'plan' is used in technical and architectural contexts to mean flat or level. A carpenter might ensure a piece of wood is 'plan' (perfectly flat). This is a highly specialized synonym that you will mostly encounter in construction, engineering, or mathematics.
Plan
A technical term for perfectly flat surfaces in engineering and carpentry.

Das Brett muss absolut plan auf dem Tisch liegen.

By differentiating between flach, eben, platt, seicht, oberflächlich, and plan, you develop a highly precise German vocabulary. You will know exactly when to describe a landscape as flach, a tire as platt, a movie as seicht, and a surface as eben. This level of nuance is what separates intermediate learners from advanced speakers.

How Formal Is It?

Niveau de difficulté

Grammaire à connaître

Adjective declension before nouns

Comparative and superlative forms without umlaut

Separable verbs (flachfallen, flachliegen)

Predicative adjectives (no endings)

Prepositions with Dative (im flachen Wasser)

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Exemples par niveau

1

Der Tisch ist flach.

The table is flat.

Predicative adjective, no ending.

2

Das Land ist sehr flach.

The land is very flat.

Used with the verb 'sein'.

3

Ich brauche einen flachen Teller.

I need a flat plate.

Accusative masculine ending '-en'.

4

Das Buch ist flach.

The book is flat.

Basic descriptive sentence.

5

Der Fernseher ist flach.

The TV is flat.

Vocabulary for modern objects.

6

Wir haben einen flachen Garten.

We have a flat garden.

Accusative masculine ending.

7

Das Dach ist flach.

The roof is flat.

Describing architecture.

8

Ist der Weg flach?

Is the path flat?

Question structure with 'sein'.

1

Das Wasser hier ist flach.

The water here is shallow.

Meaning shifts to 'shallow' with water.

2

Kinder spielen im flachen Wasser.

Children play in the shallow water.

Dative neuter ending '-en' after 'im'.

3

Mein neuer Bildschirm ist sehr flach.

My new monitor is very flat.

Describing technology.

4

Holland ist flacher als die Schweiz.

Holland is flatter than Switzerland.

Comparative form 'flacher' (no umlaut).

5

Wir wandern durch das flache Land.

We hike through the flat land.

Accusative neuter ending '-e' after 'das'.

6

Der See ist an dieser Stelle flach.

The lake is shallow at this spot.

Prepositional phrase context.

7

Bitte nimm die flachen Schuhe.

Please take the flat shoes.

Accusative plural ending '-en'.

8

Das ist der flachste Teller.

That is the flattest plate.

Superlative form 'flachste'.

1

Das Treffen fällt heute leider flach.

The meeting is unfortunately canceled today.

Separable verb 'flachfallen' in present tense.

2

Ich liege mit einer Erkältung flach.

I am laid up with a cold.

Separable verb 'flachliegen'.

3

Sein Witz war wirklich sehr flach.

His joke was really very corny/flat.

Figurative use for humor.

4

Wir bevorzugen flache Hierarchien in der Firma.

We prefer flat hierarchies in the company.

Business vocabulary, accusative plural.

5

Das Boot kann im flachen Wasser fahren.

The boat can travel in shallow water.

Dative case with modal verb.

6

Wegen des Regens fällt das Konzert flach.

Because of the rain, the concert is canceled.

Genitive preposition 'wegen' + flachfallen.

7

Atme ruhig, deine Atmung ist zu flach.

Breathe calmly, your breathing is too shallow.

Medical/physical context.

8

Die Landschaft im Norden ist extrem flach.

The landscape in the north is extremely flat.

Adverbial modifier 'extrem'.

1

Start-ups werben oft mit flachen Hierarchien.

Start-ups often advertise with flat hierarchies.

Dative plural 'flachen Hierarchien'.

2

Der Patient zeigte eine flache und schnelle Atmung.

The patient showed shallow and rapid breathing.

Accusative feminine 'eine flache'.

3

Die Witze des Moderators wurden im Laufe des Abends immer flacher.

The host's jokes became flatter and flatter over the course of the evening.

Comparative 'immer flacher' to show progression.

4

Ein Flachbildfernseher gehört heute zur Standardausstattung.

A flat-screen TV is part of the standard equipment today.

Compound noun 'Flachbildfernseher'.

5

Da mein Auto kaputt ist, fällt der Ausflug flach.

Since my car is broken, the trip is canceled.

Subordinate clause 'da' + main clause with 'flachfallen'.

6

Die Küste fällt hier sehr flach ins Meer ab.

The coast slopes very gently/shallowly into the sea here.

Verb 'abfallen' modified by 'flach'.

7

Trotz der flachen Handlung war der Film ein Erfolg.

Despite the shallow plot, the movie was a success.

Genitive feminine 'der flachen' after 'trotz'.

8

Ich lag das ganze Wochenende mit Fieber flach.

I was laid up with a fever the whole weekend.

Simple past (Präteritum) of 'flachliegen' (lag flach).

1

In Krisenzeiten ist es oft ratsam, den Ball flach zu halten.

In times of crisis, it is often advisable to keep a low profile.

Idiom 'den Ball flach halten' with zu-infinitive.

2

Die flache Hierarchie des Unternehmens fördert eine agile Arbeitsweise.

The company's flat hierarchy promotes an agile way of working.

Nominative feminine subject in a complex sentence.

3

Seine Argumentation war erschreckend flach und unreflektiert.

His argumentation was shockingly shallow and unreflective.

Adjectives used predicatively to critique intellect.

4

Das Projekt ist flachgefallen, weil die Finanzierung gestrichen wurde.

The project fell through because the funding was cut.

Perfect tense of 'flachfallen' (ist flachgefallen).

5

Der Flachwurzler ist besonders anfällig für starke Stürme.

The shallow-rooted plant is particularly susceptible to strong storms.

Specialized botanical compound noun.

6

Die flachabfallende Küstenlinie ist typisch für diese Region.

The gently sloping coastline is typical for this region.

Participle adjective 'flachabfallend'.

7

Er versuchte, die angespannte Stimmung mit einem flachen Witz aufzulockern.

He tried to lighten the tense mood with a corny joke.

Dative masculine 'einem flachen' in an infinitive clause.

8

Wenn wir nicht bald handeln, fällt der gesamte Zeitplan flach.

If we don't act soon, the entire schedule will fall through.

Conditional sentence with 'flachfallen'.

1

Die intellektuelle Flachheit des Diskurses ist ein Symptom unserer Zeit.

The intellectual shallowness of the discourse is a symptom of our time.

Noun form 'Flachheit' used in a philosophical context.

2

Man muss den Ball flach halten, um keine unnötige Panik zu schüren.

One must keep a low profile in order not to stoke unnecessary panic.

Idiom integrated into a final clause (um...zu).

3

Das Flachrelief an der Fassade zeugt von meisterhafter Handwerkskunst.

The bas-relief on the facade is a testament to masterful craftsmanship.

Art history vocabulary 'Flachrelief'.

4

Wäre er nicht flachgelegen, hätte er die Konferenz leiten können.

Had he not been laid up (sick), he could have led the conference.

Konjunktiv II past perfect with 'flachliegen'.

5

Die flache Struktur des Romans verwehrt dem Leser jegliche emotionale Tiefe.

The flat structure of the novel denies the reader any emotional depth.

Literary critique using 'flach' metaphorically.

6

Die Flachlandtiroler haben oft Schwierigkeiten mit der alpinen Höhenluft.

Flatlanders often have difficulties with the alpine mountain air.

Humorous/derogatory compound noun 'Flachlandtiroler'.

7

Es bedarf mehr als nur flacher Lippenbekenntnisse, um den Klimawandel zu stoppen.

It takes more than just shallow lip service to stop climate change.

Genitive plural 'flacher' in a political context.

8

Die Verhandlungen drohten flachzufallen, doch im letzten Moment gab es einen Durchbruch.

The negotiations threatened to fall through, but at the last moment there was a breakthrough.

Infinitive with 'zu' inside a separable verb (flachzufallen).

Collocations courantes

flaches Wasser
flaches Land
flacher Bauch
flacher Witz
flache Hierarchie
flacher Teller
flacher Bildschirm
flach atmen
flach abfallend
den Ball flach halten

Phrases Courantes

Das fällt flach.
Ich liege flach.
Ein flacher Witz.
Flache Hierarchien.
Im flachen Wasser schwimmen.
Den Ball flach halten.
Das flache Land.
Ein flacher Teller.
Flach atmen.
Ein Flachbildschirm.

Souvent confondu avec

flach vs platt

flach vs eben

flach vs seicht

Expressions idiomatiques

"den Ball flach halten"
"flachfallen"
"flachliegen"
"ein Flachlandtiroler sein"
"flach wie eine Flunder"
"flach auf dem Bauch liegen"
"flach atmen"
"flache Witze reißen"
"flache Hierarchien haben"
"etwas flachklopfen"

Facile à confondre

flach vs

flach vs

flach vs

flach vs

flach vs

Structures de phrases

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Comment l'utiliser

regional variants

In the North, 'platt' heavily overlaps with 'flach' in colloquial speech.

literal vs figurative

Literally means flat or shallow. Figuratively means superficial, corny, or canceled.

Erreurs courantes
  • Using 'flächer' instead of 'flacher' for the comparative.
  • Saying 'ein flacher Reifen' instead of 'ein platter Reifen' for a flat tire.
  • Forgetting that 'flach' means 'shallow' and trying to invent a word for shallow water.
  • Failing to separate the verb 'flachfallen' in a main clause (e.g., saying 'Es flachfällt').
  • Using 'flach' instead of 'oberflächlich' to describe a shallow personality.

Astuces

No Umlaut

Never put an umlaut on 'flach' in the comparative. It is always flacher, am flachsten.

The Flat Tire Rule

Never use flach for a flat tire. Always use platt (ein platter Reifen).

Cancel Plans Like a Native

Use 'fällt flach' instead of 'ist abgesagt' to sound much more natural in casual conversation.

Water vs. Land

Remember: flaches Wasser = shallow water. Flaches Land = flat land.

Job Interviews

Learn the phrase 'flache Hierarchien'. You will hear it in almost every modern German job interview.

Calling in Sick

Tell your German boss 'Ich liege flach' when you are too sick to get out of bed.

Setting the Table

Ask for a 'flacher Teller' for meat and a 'tiefer Teller' for soup.

Reacting to Bad Jokes

If someone tells a terrible pun, just say 'Der war flach!' (That was flat/corny!).

Keep Calm

Use 'den Ball flach halten' when telling someone not to panic or overreact.

The Ach-Laut

The 'ch' in flach is pronounced deep in the throat, like in the Scottish word 'loch'.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of a FLAT FLOCK of birds flying low over SHALLOW water.

Origine du mot

From Middle High German 'vlach', Old High German 'flah', meaning flat or level.

Contexte culturel

Describing someone's humor as 'flach' is a mild insult, similar to calling it a 'dad joke'.

In Northern Germany, 'platt' is often used instead of 'flach' due to the influence of Plattdeutsch (Low German).

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Amorces de conversation

"Magst du lieber flaches Land oder Berge?"

"Arbeitest du lieber in einer Firma mit flachen Hierarchien?"

"Kannst du im flachen Wasser schon schwimmen?"

"Warum fällt unser Treffen heute flach?"

"Kennst du einen richtig flachen Witz?"

Sujets d'écriture

Beschreibe die Landschaft deiner Heimatstadt. Ist sie flach oder bergig?

Schreibe über ein Ereignis, das letzte Woche flachgefallen ist.

Was sind die Vor- und Nachteile von flachen Hierarchien im Beruf?

Erzähle den flachsten Witz, den du kennst.

Beschreibe einen Tag am Strand. Wie tief war das Wasser?

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

It means both! The meaning depends entirely on the context. If you are talking about land, a table, or a screen, it means flat. If you are talking about water or breathing, it means shallow. This dual meaning is very common in German spatial adjectives.

Do NOT use 'flach'. You must use the word 'platt'. The correct sentence is 'Ich habe einen platten Reifen' or simply 'Ich habe einen Platten'. Using 'flach' here is a classic translation mistake from English.

The comparative is 'flacher' and the superlative is 'am flachsten'. Importantly, 'flach' does NOT take an umlaut. Many learners incorrectly say 'flächer', but this is grammatically wrong.

'Flachfallen' is a very common colloquial separable verb. It means that a planned event is canceled or falls through. For example, 'Das Konzert fällt flach' means the concert is canceled.

'Flachliegen' is another colloquial separable verb. It means to be laid up in bed because of an illness. If you have the flu, you say 'Ich liege mit Grippe flach'.

This is a business term meaning 'flat hierarchies'. It describes a company structure with very few levels of middle management between the staff and the executives. It is often used to advertise a modern, egalitarian workplace.

A 'flacher Witz' is a flat, corny, or shallow joke. It is the German equivalent of a 'dad joke'—a pun or simple joke that usually makes people groan rather than laugh out loud.

Yes. In German, a standard dinner plate is called a 'flacher Teller' (flat plate). This distinguishes it from a 'tiefer Teller' (deep plate), which is used for soup or pasta.

This is a popular idiom that literally means 'to keep the ball flat' (from football). Figuratively, it means to keep a low profile, not to overreact, or to keep things calm during a tense situation.

While you can, it is much more common and natural to use the word 'oberflächlich' to describe a person who is shallow or superficial. 'Flach' is better reserved for jokes, water, and landscapes.

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