Glatte

Glatte is the attributive inflected form of the German adjective glatt, meaning smooth or slippery. It is used before a noun to describe texture or condition and changes its ending according to gender, number, and case. In common usage, glatte occurs most often with feminine singular nouns and with all plural nouns in the nominative and accusative cases. Examples include die glatte Oberfläche (the smooth surface), eine glatte Oberfläche (a smooth surface), and glatte Straßen (slippery or smooth streets).

The sense of glatt depends on context. When referring to surfaces such as glass, metal, or skin, glatte conveys a smooth, even texture. When describing roads, floors, or other surfaces in winter or rain, glatte implies slipperiness and potential danger. The form glatte therefore covers both benign and hazardous meanings of the base adjective glatt, and its exact nuance is determined by the noun it modifies and the surrounding sentence.

German adjectives like glatte decline with the article and the noun they accompany, so the ending shown by glatte indicates feminine singular or plural usage in common constructions. It is not a separate word with its own independent meaning outside of the base adjective glatt; rather, it is the specific inflected form used in attributive positions.

See also: glatt, which is the base form meaning smooth; and related phrases describing texture or surface condition in German.