flach

See also: Flach and Fläch

German

Etymology

From Middle High German vlach, from Old High German flah, from Proto-Germanic *flakaz.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /flaχ/

• Audio:

  (file)

Adjective

flach (comparative flacher, superlative am flachsten)

1. shallow (wide and not deep)

   flaches Wasser ― shallow water

   eine flache Vertiefung ― a shallow indentation

2. flat (wide and not high)

   ein flacher Kuchen ― a flat cake

   eine flache Landschaft ― a flat landscape

3. not steep; having little slope; comparatively plane and level

   ein flaches Bergplateau ― a level mountain plateau

   ein flacher Anstieg ― a slight ascent

4. (figuratively, of jokes, films etc.) vapid; shallow (lacking intellectual depth or refinement)

   ein flacher Witz ― a shallow joke

Synonyms

• (not deep): seicht, untief (both of bodies of water only)
• (not high): niedrig, platt
• (vapid): seicht (slightly different)

Antonyms

• (not deep): tief
• (not high): hoch
• (not steep): steil
• (vapid): tiefgeistig, tiefsinnig

Derived terms

• Fläche
• Flachheit
• verflachen

Further reading

• “flach” in Duden online