hellhörig

German

FWOTD – 2 August 2017

Etymology

From hell (clear, bright) + hören (to hear) + -ig

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [hɛlˈhøːʀɪç]
  • Hyphenation: hell‧hö‧rig

Adjective

hellhörig (comparative hellhöriger, superlative am hellhörigsten)

  1. (of walls, apartments, etc.) poorly soundproofed, having thin walls
    • 1934, Walther Kabel (as Max Schraut), Der Bluffer, Verlag moderner Lektüre, page 54:
      Die Wohnungen dürften ein wenig hellhörig sein.
      The walls of the apartments are probably a bit thin.
  2. (mainly in certain idioms, see derived terms) alert
  3. (dated) having a keen ear, clairaudient

Declension

Derived terms

  • hellhörig machen
  • hellhörig werden
  • Hellhörigkeit

Further reading

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