schlapp

From Middle Low German slap (“flaccid”), from Proto-Germanic *slap-, perhaps ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)leh₂b- (“to be weak, limp, languid”), and from the same family of words as German *slēpaną (“to sleep”); see also Latin labō (“fluctuate, waver”).^[1] Doublet of schlaff, which is often interchangeable in modern German. Also cognate with Dutch slap.

• IPA^(key): /ʃlap/

• Audio:

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• Rhymes: -ap

schlapp (strong nominative masculine singular schlapper, comparative schlapper, superlative am schlappsten)

1. (of people or behaviour) weak, lacking vigour, weary, exhausted
2. (of things) slack, flabby, limp

• Schlapp is the more common form referring to people or actions; schlaff is the more common form referring to things.

• Schlappheit, Schlappschwanz, schlapplachen, schlappmachen

• schlaff