der  Spalt

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/deːɐ̯ ʃpalt/

🔍 What exactly is 'der Spalt'?

The word der Spalt (plural: die Spalte) describes a narrow, often elongated opening, a crack, or a separation. It can refer to various contexts:

• Physical opening: A crack in a wall (Wandspalt), a gap between boards, a space under a door (Türspalt), a crevice in a rock (Felsspalt).
• Geology: A fissure or fault in rock.
• Abstract separation: A disagreement or rift between people or groups (e.g., a Spalt in society).

⚠️ Be careful not to confuse der Spalt (masculine) with die Spalte (feminine). Die Spalte often refers to a column in a table or newspaper, but can also be used synonymously for a larger Spalt (crack, fissure, cleft), especially in geology or anatomy.

🧐 Grammar of 'der Spalt' in Detail

Der Spalt is a masculine noun. Here is its declension:

Example Sentences

1. Durch den schmalen Spalt in der Wand konnte man Licht sehen.
   (One could see light through the narrow gap in the wall.)
2. Der Bergsteiger sicherte sich in einem tiefen Spalt im Fels.
   (The mountaineer secured himself in a deep crevice in the rock.)
3. Der Spalt zwischen den beiden Parteien wurde immer größer.
   (The rift between the two parties grew ever larger.)
4. Pass auf, dass du nicht in den Spalt zwischen Zug und Bahnsteig fällst!
   (Be careful not to fall into the gap between the train and the platform!)
5. Ein kalter Luftzug kam durch den Spalt unter der Tür.
   (A cold draft came through the gap under the door.)

✍️ How to use 'der Spalt'?

Der Spalt is mostly used to describe a physical gap or crack.

• Everyday life: People talk about a Türspalt (door gap), Fensterspalt (window gap), or a Spalt in furniture.
• Nature & Geology: This refers to Felsspalten (rock crevices) or Gletscherspalten (glacier crevasses).
• Technology & Construction: Joints between components are sometimes called a Spalt (e.g., Dehnungsfuge, an expansion joint, which forms a Spalt).
• Figurative meaning: Less common, but possible, is the use for social or ideological divisions (ein Spalt in der Gesellschaft - a rift in society, ein Spalt zwischen Generationen - a gap between generations). However, words like Kluft (divide, chasm) or Graben (ditch, divide) are often preferred here.

Distinction from similar words:

• Riss: (crack, tear) Similar to Spalt, often caused by material fatigue or breakage. Can be finer than a Spalt.
• Lücke: (gap, blank) More of a missing part, an interruption, not necessarily narrow and elongated.
• Fuge: (joint, gap) A deliberately left or formed space between components, common in construction.
• Kluft: (chasm, rift, divide) Often a larger, deeper gap; also used figuratively (Meinungskluft - difference of opinion).

💡 Mnemonics for 'der Spalt'

For the article 'der': Think of similar masculine German words like der Riss (the crack) or der Sprung (the crack/leap). A sPaLiT has a certain *potency* like many 'der' words, it's a definite break.

For the meaning: The English word "split" sounds very similar to Spalt and has the core meaning of dividing or separating, which creates a Spalt (gap, crevice).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for 'der Spalt'

⚠️ Similar Words:

• Die Spalte: (column, fissure) - Feminine! Can mean a column (newspaper, table) or a larger crack/gap.

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt der Maurerlehrling: "Meister, sollen wir den Spalt in der Wand zumauern?"
Sagt der Meister: "Nein, lass den mal offen. Das ist ein tragender Spalt!"

Translation: The apprentice mason asks: "Master, should we brick up the gap in the wall?"
The master replies: "No, leave it open. That's a load-bearing gap!" (A play on words, as gaps are usually the opposite of load-bearing).

📜 Poem about the Spalt

Ein kleiner Spalt, kaum zu sehen,
lässt Wind und Licht hindurch doch wehen.
Im Fels, im Holz, in alter Wand,
entsteht er oft von selbst, von Menschenhand.
Manchmal trennt er, was geeint,
ein tiefer Spalt, der bitter weint.

Translation:
A little gap, barely seen,
lets wind and light still pass between.
In rock, in wood, in ancient wall,
it often forms itself, or by man's call.
Sometimes it parts what once was near,
a deeper rift, that sheds a bitter tear.

🧩 Riddle

Ich bin schmal und oft auch lang,
durch mich dringt manchmal ein Klang.
Man findet mich in Wand und Stein,
und manchmal lass' ich Licht herein.
Bin ich zu groß, kann's gefährlich sein.

Was bin ich?
... Der Spalt

Translation:
I am narrow and often long,
through me sometimes penetrates a song (sound).
You find me in walls and stone,
and sometimes I let light be shown.
If I'm too big, danger can be known.

What am I?
... Der Spalt (The gap/crevice)

✨ Other Information

Word Formation (Wortbildung):

• The noun der Spalt comes from the verb spalten (to split, cleave).
• There are many compound words, e.g.: Türspalt (door gap), Felsspalt (rock crevice), Gletscherspalte (glacier crevasse - Note: feminine!), Haarspalt (hairline crack), Spaltmaß (gap dimension - in engineering), Spaltpilz (fission fungus - bacterium), Spaltmaterial (fissile material - in nuclear physics).

Interesting Phrase:

The expression "einen Spalt breit öffnen" means to open something just a tiny bit (e.g., a door ajar).