adjective
lean, meager
B1
Mager: adjective meaning chiefly lean (low in fat, e.g., meat) or meager (scant, insufficient). It is gradable: comparative magerer, superlative am magersten. Antonym: fett. Used for food, body or quantities. Not a participle; regular adjective morphology in German. Often negative connotation regarding thinness.
Examples
Sein Gehalt ist leider ziemlich mager.
His salary is, unfortunately, quite meager.
Dieses Fleisch ist sehr mager.
This meat is very lean.
Obwohl das Fleisch mager war, servierte der Koch es mit einer reichhaltigen Soße, damit die Gäste zufrieden waren.
Although the meat was lean, the cook served it with a rich sauce so that the guests were satisfied.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture a very lean steak with almost no fat to remember 'mager'.
Sounds a bit like English 'major' but think 'mah-ger' meaning thin/low in fat.
Notes
Often used for food (low-fat) or to describe something insufficient (meager). Comparative: 'magerer', superlative: 'am magersten'.