German edit

Etymology edit

From Middle High German slaf, from Old High German slaf, from Proto-Germanic *slap-, perhaps ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)leh₂b- (to be weak, limp, languid), see also Latin labō (fluctuate, waver).[1]

The same word of Low German origin is schlapp, a synonym in modern standard German.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ʃlaf/
  • (file)

Adjective edit

schlaff (strong nominative masculine singular schlaffer, comparative schlaffer, superlative am schlaffsten)

  1. (of things) slack, limp
  2. (of people) weak, weary

Usage notes edit

Schlaff is the more common form referring to things; schlapp is the more common form referring to people.

Declension edit

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit

References edit

  1. ^ van der Sijs, Nicoline, editor (2010), “slap”, in Etymologiebank, Meertens Institute

Further reading edit

  • schlaff” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
  • schlaff” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
  • schlaff” in Duden online