thin
Thin means something that is not thick, or a person who does not have much body fat.
Explanation at your level:
Thin means not thick. A piece of paper is thin. A pencil can be thin too. If a person is not fat, we say they are thin. It is an easy word to use for things that are small in size.
Use thin to describe objects that are not wide. For example, a thin blanket is not very warm. You can also use it for people who are slim. It is the opposite of thick.
In this level, you can use thin for more abstract ideas. We talk about thin air in the mountains or a thin excuse that no one believes. It is a very common adjective in English.
At this level, you should notice how thin is used in idioms. Being thin-skinned or wearing your patience thin are great phrases. It also describes liquids that lack body or density, like a thin soup.
Advanced users use thin to describe sparse distribution, such as thin attendance at a meeting. It also carries nuance in professional contexts, like 'thin margins' in business, suggesting a lack of buffer or safety.
At the mastery level, consider the etymological connection to 'tenuous'. We use thin to describe arguments or evidence that lack substance. It captures a sense of fragility, whether in physical structure or logical reasoning.
Palavra em 30 segundos
- Means not thick or low body fat.
- Antonym is thick.
- Can be used for physical objects or abstract concepts.
- Pronounced with a short 'i' sound.
When you hear the word thin, think of something that isn't bulky. It’s the opposite of thick! You can use it to describe physical objects, like a thin layer of ice on a pond, or to describe a person's build.
It’s a very versatile word. You might describe a thin slice of bread, or perhaps a thin voice that is barely audible. Always remember that while it describes objects well, be careful when using it for people—it can sometimes sound blunt, so slender or slim are often kinder alternatives.
The word thin has deep roots! It comes from the Old English word thynne, which shares a common ancestor with the Proto-Germanic thunnuz. It is related to the Old High German dunni and even the Latin tenuis.
Historically, it has always meant having little thickness. Over centuries, the spelling stabilized into the modern English form we use today. It’s fascinating how such a simple, short word has survived in almost the same form for over a thousand years across various Germanic languages!
You will see thin used in many daily contexts. We often talk about thin air at high altitudes or a thin crowd at a concert. It pairs well with materials like paper, fabric, or liquids.
In formal writing, you might see it used to describe thin evidence, meaning the proof is weak or insufficient. In casual conversation, it’s a standard way to describe physical appearance, though context is key to sounding polite.
Idioms make language fun! Thin on the ground means something is rare or hard to find. Walking on thin ice means you are in a risky situation. Spread yourself too thin means you are doing too many things at once.
You might also hear thin-skinned, which describes someone who gets upset easily by criticism. Finally, the thin end of the wedge refers to a small change that will lead to much bigger, usually negative, changes later.
Pronunciation is straightforward: /θɪn/. The 'th' is unvoiced, like in 'think'. It rhymes with bin, sin, win, pin, and tin.
Grammatically, it is a simple adjective. It can be used before a noun (a thin book) or after a linking verb (the book is thin). The comparative form is thinner and the superlative is thinnest—don't forget to double the 'n'!
Fun Fact
It has remained remarkably unchanged in spelling for nearly 1000 years.
Pronunciation Guide
Short 'i' sound
Similar to UK
Common Errors
- pronouncing 'th' as 's'
- pronouncing 'th' as 'f'
- elongating the 'i'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Very easy to read
Requires care with context
Common word
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Avançado
Grammar to Know
Adjective placement
A thin book
Comparative adjectives
Thinner than
CVC doubling rule
Thin -> Thinner
Examples by Level
The paper is thin.
Paper / is / not thick
Adjective after verb
He is thin.
He / is / not fat
Adjective describing person
This is a thin book.
This / is / a / small book
Adjective before noun
The ice is thin.
The ice / is / weak
Simple sentence
She has thin hair.
Her hair / is / not thick
Adjective before noun
The wall is thin.
The wall / is / light
Describing physical object
I need a thin pen.
I need / a / skinny pen
Adjective before noun
The soup is thin.
The soup / is / watery
Describing consistency
The blanket is too thin for winter.
He is a thin man with glasses.
The crowd was thin today.
This is a thin slice of cake.
Her coat is very thin.
The air is thin at the top of the mountain.
He drew a thin line on the paper.
The fabric is thin and soft.
The evidence against him is very thin.
She spread the butter thin on the toast.
The forest was thin in this area.
His patience is wearing thin.
The atmosphere is thin in space.
They have thin walls in this apartment.
The group was thin on the ground.
He has a thin face.
The plot of the movie was rather thin.
She is very thin-skinned about her work.
The company is walking on thin ice with investors.
He is spreading himself too thin lately.
The liquid became thin after heating.
The thin end of the wedge is dangerous.
The supply of water is getting thin.
There is a thin line between genius and madness.
The thin veneer of civilization faded quickly.
His argument was thin and lacked substance.
The thin air made it hard to breathe.
She kept a thin smile on her face.
The thin population density made travel difficult.
The thin layer of paint didn't cover the stain.
His voice was thin and trembling.
The thin margin of victory was unexpected.
The thin, reedy sound of the flute filled the room.
He maintained a thin facade of politeness.
The thin evidence failed to convince the jury.
A thin mist hung over the valley.
The thin gruel was all they had to eat.
She felt the thin thread of hope snapping.
The thin membrane protected the specimen.
The thin light of dawn broke through the clouds.
Colocações comuns
Idioms & Expressions
"thin on the ground"
rare or scarce
Good mechanics are thin on the ground.
casual"walking on thin ice"
in a risky situation
You are walking on thin ice with your boss.
casual"spread yourself too thin"
doing too many things
I'm spreading myself too thin at work.
neutral"thin-skinned"
easily offended
Don't be so thin-skinned about the feedback.
neutral"the thin end of the wedge"
the start of a bigger problem
This policy is just the thin end of the wedge.
formal"wear thin"
to lose patience
My patience is wearing thin.
casualEasily Confused
both describe weight
slim is a compliment
She is slim (nice) vs She is thin (neutral).
both mean small width
narrow is for space/width
A narrow road vs A thin sheet.
they are opposites
thick is the antonym
Thick book vs Thin book.
both mean small
fine is for texture
Fine hair vs Thin hair.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + is + thin
The wall is thin.
A + thin + noun
A thin layer of ice.
Subject + verb + thin + prep
He spread the butter thin on the bread.
Thin + noun + verb
Thin walls carry sound easily.
The + noun + is + thin
The evidence is thin.
Família de palavras
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Relacionado
How to Use It
8/10
Formality Scale
Erros comuns
thin can sound like a criticism of weight
CVC rule requires doubling the consonant
thin is for small dimensions
thin is an adjective, not a noun
thin is for thickness/depth
Tips
Use with objects
Use thin for paper, walls, and liquids.
Avoid for people
Prefer 'slender' in formal settings.
Comparative rule
Double the 'n' for thinner.
Ancient roots
It's a Germanic word.
Word association
Link it with 'thick' to remember the pair.
The 'th' sound
Put your tongue between teeth.
Politeness
Be careful when commenting on body size.
Visuals
Draw a thin line to remember the meaning.
Abstract usage
Use for 'thin evidence'.
Context
Read news articles to see it in use.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Thin starts with TH, like THick, but it is the opposite.
Visual Association
A piece of paper held up to the light.
Word Web
Desafio
Describe 5 things in your room using the word thin.
Origem da palavra
Old English
Original meaning: having little thickness
Contexto cultural
Avoid using 'thin' to describe people in professional or sensitive contexts.
Commonly used in daily life but sensitive when discussing body weight.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Cooking
- thin slice
- thin soup
- thin layer
Construction
- thin wall
- thin material
- thin foundation
Travel
- thin air
- thin crowd
- thin forest
Debate
- thin argument
- thin evidence
- thin excuse
Conversation Starters
"Do you prefer thin or thick crust pizza?"
"Is the air thin where you live?"
"What is the thinnest thing you own?"
"Do you think it's rude to call someone thin?"
"Have you ever walked on thin ice?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you felt thin-skinned.
Write about a thin object that is important to you.
How do you handle being spread too thin?
Describe a landscape that looks thin or sparse.
Perguntas frequentes
8 perguntasIt depends on context; it can be neutral for objects but sensitive for people.
Thinly.
Thinner.
Sometimes, like a 'thin argument'.
No, usually not.
They are similar, but slim is more positive.
Air at high altitude with less oxygen.
With an unvoiced 'th' sound.
Teste-se
The paper is very ___.
Paper is a thin object.
Which is the opposite of thin?
Thick is the antonym.
Thin can describe a person's weight.
It is a common descriptor for physique.
Word
Significado
Idiom matching.
Correct structure is The ice is thin.
Pontuação: /5
Summary
Thin is a versatile word for describing lack of thickness, but choose your synonyms carefully when talking about people.
- Means not thick or low body fat.
- Antonym is thick.
- Can be used for physical objects or abstract concepts.
- Pronounced with a short 'i' sound.
Use with objects
Use thin for paper, walls, and liquids.
Avoid for people
Prefer 'slender' in formal settings.
Comparative rule
Double the 'n' for thinner.
Ancient roots
It's a Germanic word.
Exemplo
This is very thin.
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