schmaler

Schmaler is a German adjective that serves as the comparative form of schmal, meaning "narrow" or "slim." It is used to indicate that one object, dimension, or aspect is more narrow than another. In standard German, schmaler inflects according to gender, number, and case; with a definite article the nominative singular ending is typically -e: der schmalere Weg, die schmalere Brücke, das schmalere Fenster. With an indefinite article or without an article, endings vary by case and gender, for example: einen schmaleren Weg, eine schmalere Brücke, ein schmaleres Fenster. The word retains its basic sense of comparison and can describe widths, openings, passages, or other measurements.

In usage, schmaler appears in everyday speech and writing to compare two or more things. It can describe physical dimensions, such as a hallway, a window, or a street, as well as figurative dimensions like a narrow margin or a slim chance.

Schmaler is also a surname of German origin. As a family name, it may be found among individuals in German-speaking regions and elsewhere, separate from its use as a common adjective. There is no single universally recognized meaning beyond its linguistic function as the comparative form of schmal.