klam

See also: Appendix:Variations of "klam"

Czech

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈklam]
• Hyphenation: klam
• Rhymes: -am

Etymology 1

Deverbal from klamat (“to deceive”). Compare Slovak klam, Slovak klamstvo, Polish kłamstwo.

Noun

klam m inan

1. fallacy, illusion
2. deception

Declension

Declension of klam (hard masculine inanimate)

	singular	plural
nominative	klam	klamy
genitive	klamu	klamů
dative	klamu	klamům
accusative	klam	klamy
vocative	klame	klamy
locative	klamu	klamech
instrumental	klamem	klamy

Related terms

• klamat
• klamně
• klamný
• logický klam m
• oklamat
• optický klam m
• sebeklam m

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

klam

1. second-person singular imperative of klamat

   Alternative form: klamej

Further reading

• “klam”, in Příruční slovník jazyka českého (in Czech), 1935–1957
• “klam”, in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (in Czech), 1960–1971, 1989
• “klam”, in Internetová jazyková příručka (in Czech), 2008–2026

Danish

Etymology

From Middle Low German klam.

Adjective

klam (neuter klamt, plural and definite singular attributive klamme)

1. uncomfortably damp and cold
2. (figurative, informal) unpleasant, repulsive

Inflection

Inflection of klam

	positive	comparative	superlative
indefinite common singular	klam	klammere	klammest2
indefinite neuter singular	klamt	klammere	klammest2
plural	klamme	klammere	klammest2
definite attributive1	klamme	klammere	klammeste

¹ When an adjective is applied predicatively to something definite,
the corresponding "indefinite" form is used.
² The "indefinite" superlatives may not be used attributively.

Derived terms

• klamhed

References

• “klam” in Den Danske Ordbog

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch clam, ultimately from or related to Proto-West Germanic *klaimijan (“to smear with clay”).

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɑm

Adjective

klam (comparative klammer, superlative klamst)

1. clammy, damp, dank, moist and cool

Declension

Declension of klam
uninflected	klam
inflected	klamme
comparative	klammer
		positive	comparative	superlative
predicative/adverbial		klam	klammer	het klamst het klamste
indefinite	m./f. sing.	klamme	klammere	klamste
	n. sing.	klam	klammer	klamste
	plural	klamme	klammere	klamste
definite		klamme	klammere	klamste
partitive		klams	klammers	—

Anagrams

• kalm

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From Middle Low German klam (“tight”). (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Cognate with Danish klam, Dutch klam and German klamm.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /klam/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -am
• Hyphenation: klam

Adjective

klam (neuter singular klamt, definite singular and plural klamme, comparative klammere, predicative superlative klammest, attributive superlative klammeste)

1. clammy; damp, moist and cold (especially regarding human skin or the air)

   Synonym: fuktig

   Det var klamt og fuktig i rommet.

   It was clammy and damp in the room.

   • 1875, Henrik Ibsen, Catilina, page 101:

     jeg ser mig i en hvælving, klam som gravens muld

     I see myself in a vault, clammy like the dust of the grave

   • 1879, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, Norske Folke- og Huldre-Eventyr, page 174:

     klamme gjennemtrængende luftninger

     clammy penetrating aerations

   • 1885, Henrik Ibsen, Brand, page 117:

     her sænker skodden klamt sig ned

     here the shutter clammily lowers down

   • 1899, Henrik Ibsen, Når vi døde vågner, page 196:

     to klamme lig

     two moist corpses

   • 1907, Nils Collett Vogt, September-Brand, page 124:

     høstmørket længer sig klamt og vaadt

     the autumn darkness longs clammy and wet

   • 1889, Nils Collett Vogt, Familiens sorg, page 18:

     han var sved paa panden og klam paa hænderne

     he was sweating on his forehead and clammy on his hands

   • 1994, Dag Solstad, Genanse og verdighet:

     dette klamme klasseværelset

     this clammy classroom

   • 1990, Atle Næss, Kraften som beveger:

     en varm, klam septemberkveld med tordenvær i lufta

     a warm, humid September evening with thunderstorms in the air

   • 1996, Gunnar Staalesen, De døde har det godt:

     hun var … klam i hendene da vi håndhilste

     she was… clammy in her hands when we shook hands

   • 2005, Linn Ullmann, Et velsignet barn:

     klamme laken

     clammy sheets

2. (colloquial) piercing, unpleasant (of a mood or atmosphere)
   • 1911, Hjalmar Christensen, Fogedgaarden, page 24:

     det var ingen aabenbar uvenlighed, men en seig, klam mistænksomhet

     it was no obvious unkindness, but a tenacious, piercing suspicion

   • 1994, Dag Solstad, Genanse og verdighet:

     Johan Corneliussen må ha været den klamme taushet i rommet under dette måltid

     Johan Corneliussen must have been the most unpleasant silence in the room during this meal

3. awkward
   • 2003, Arne Svingen, De tøffeste gutta, page 57:

     alt ble så klamt når læreren skulle bry seg

     everything became so awkward when the teacher had to care

Derived terms

• klamsvett (“clammy and sweaty”)

References

• “klam” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
• “klam” in Norwegian Academy Dictionary (NAOB).

Slovak

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /klam/, [ˈklam]
• Rhymes: -am

Verb

klam

1. second-person singular imperative of klamať