adjective
narrow, close
A2
Eng: adjective meaning 'narrow' (physical) or 'close' (relationship/intimate). Also 'tight' in context of clothes/spaces. Gradable: comparative enger, superlative am engsten. Antonym: weit. Commonly used attributively or predicatively; not reflexive and no special prepositions. Also used figuratively for emotional closeness or tight timeframes; appears in compounds (e.g., engst-).
Examples
Wir sind eng befreundet und sprechen fast jeden Tag.
We're close friends and talk almost every day.
Die Tasche war eng, weil die Bücher größer waren als erwartet, sodass die Frau zusätzliche Taschen kaufen musste.
The bag was tight because the books were larger than expected, so the woman had to buy additional bags.
Die Straße ist sehr eng, man kann kaum zwei Autos passieren lassen.
The street is very narrow; you can barely fit two cars side by side.
Details
Mnemonics
Imagine a narrow alley where two people brush shoulders.
Like English 'eng' pronounced like 'eng' in 'length' without the l — short and close.
not applicable
Notes
Can describe physical narrowness or close relationships. Comparative: 'enger', superlative: 'am engsten' or attributive 'der engste'.