Noun
der Span
Pronunciation: /ʃpaːn/
chip; shaving; clipping (small, usually flat, cut-off piece)
C2
rank #9,134
plural Späne
Meanings
Noun
- chip; shaving; clipping (small, usually flat, cut-off piece)
Example sentence
Wo gehobelt wird, da fliegen Späne.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs (lit. where wood is planed, shavings fly).
Word forms
singular
der Span
plural
die Späne
The four cases
Singular
Nominativeder Span
Accusativeden Span
Dativedem Span
Genitivedes Spanes
Plural
Nominativedie Späne
Accusativedie Späne
Dativeden Spänen
Genitiveder Späne
Usage
- ein Span Holz — A small shaving or chip of wood.
- Span / Späne — The plural adds an umlaut and -e.
Beim Schnitzen fiel ein dünner Span auf den Boden.
A thin shaving fell to the floor during the carving.