schmäler

Schmäler is the comparative form of the German adjective schmal, meaning narrower or slimmer. It is used to compare widths, extents, or figurative narrowness, for example when describing objects, openings, or spaces that are not as wide as another.

Formation and usage notes: Schmäler is formed from schmal with the umlaut and the comparative suffix -er. In standard High German, schmäler is the normative form for the comparison; some speakers may also use schmaler in casual speech, but schmäler is widely accepted. The superlative is am schmalsten. The word can appear in attributive position (ein schmäleres Fenster) or predicative position (Der Spalt ist schmäler als der andere; Das Fenster ist schmäler).

Examples of use: Die Öffnung ist schmäler als jene. Dieser Gürtel ist schmäler geworden. Das schmälerste Fenster im Raum wurde zuletzt saniert. In technical or architectural contexts, schmäler can describe a component with reduced width or a narrower cross-section compared with a reference part.

Etymology and related forms: Schmäler derives from schmal, with the historical tendency in German to form comparatives by adding -er and sometimes undergoing an umlaut. The related adjective schmal is etymologically older, tracing back to Old High German. Synonyms or near-variants include enger and narrower in other contexts, though schmäler specifically conveys a narrower or slimmer degree in German.

See also: schmal, enger, Vergleich (comparison), German adjectives with umlaut in the comparative.