adjectiveadverb

glatt

smooth · slippery · smoothly

Etwas ohne Unebenheiten oder Rauigkeit, das sich weich und eben anfühlt oder aussieht.

Definition & meaning

The German adjective glatt describes a surface that has no roughness, bumps, or irregularities. Depending on the context, it can have several nuances:

Physical texture: Smooth, even, or level (e.g., a smooth wooden surface).
Slippery: In the context of weather or roads, it means icy or slick (e.g., "die Straße ist glatt").
Appearance: It can describe hair that is straight rather than curly or wavy.
Figurative/Behavioral: It can describe someone who is "slick" or "smooth-talking"—someone who is very polished, persuasive, but potentially insincere or untrustworthy.
Numerical: It can refer to a round number (e.g., "100 Euro glatt" means exactly 100 Euros).

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar:

glatt is an adjective that can be used as a predicate (e.g., "Der Tisch ist glatt") or as an attributive adjective with declension (e.g., "die glatte Oberfläche").
Comparative form: glatter
Superlative form: am glattesten

Origin: The word traces back to the Middle High German glat and Old High German glat, meaning smooth, shining, or polished. It shares roots with the Proto-Germanic glattaz.