Polyglot Dictionary

scharf

/ʃaʁf/

adjective A2

der (masc.) die (fem.) das (neut.)

Underline = a spelling pattern that usually signals that gender.

Adj Register Neutral Era Current Frequency Core Domain General Tone Neutral

Forms

comparative
schärfer
superlative
am schärfsten

Meaning

  1. sharp (of a blade or edge)

    • Das Messer ist sehr scharf.

      The knife is very sharp.

  2. spicy, hot (of food)

    • Das Essen war ihr zu scharf.

      The food was too spicy for her.

Similar words

herb

Easy to mix up as flavor words: herb is a tart, dry taste (dark chocolate, dry wine); scharf is spicy-hot (chili). Both can loosely translate English "sharp (tasting)," but they describe opposite kinds of intensity.

Similar in other languages

English

keen

Close, figuratively — sharp relates to keen.

Portuguese

distinto

Close, figuratively — sharp (precise, as of an edge) relates to distinct (distinto).

English

steep

steep overlaps with German scharf (sharp) for a sudden, sharp incline.

Practice

1 What does scharf mean?

2 Fill the gap: Das Messer ist sehr ___.

3 Which fingerprint chart matches scharf?

adjectivetwo-meanings

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