konijntje
The Dutch word for bunny is konijntje.
konijntje is used to refer to a young rabbit. It is often used to express endearment or to emphasize that the animal is small.
Meaning: young rabbit (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a diminutive form of konijn (rabbit), created by adding the suffix -tje to mean little rabbit.
Which one should you use?
While konijn is the standard word for rabbit, konijntje is used similarly to the English word 'bunny' to convey affection or smallness.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because of the diminutive suffix -tje, konijntje is always a neuter noun. It takes the article een (a) and the neuter demonstrative het (the). The plural form is konijntjes.
Did you know?
- The Dutch concept of 'gezelligheid', or coziness, is often invoked when using diminutive words like konijntje to create a warm, friendly atmosphere.
- In Dutch, the use of diminutives like konijntje is so frequent that it can sometimes make a serious conversation sound unintentionally playful or trivial.
- The diminutive suffix -tje in konijntje is so common that Dutch speakers use it to make almost any noun sound friendlier or smaller, regardless of the actual size of the object.
Examples in context
- We hebben een konijntje.We have a bunny.This sentence demonstrates the use of konijntje to state possession.Tatoeba #13322225 by PaulP, translation #8609351 by shekitten
- Lief klein konijntje had een vliegje op zijn neus.Sweet little bunny had a fly on its nose.This sentence uses konijntje in a descriptive context.
- Ik zag een schattig konijn in de tuin.I saw a cute bunny in the garden.
- De kinderen voeren de konijnen in het park.The children are feeding the bunnies in the park.
- Wat een lief konijntje!What a sweet little bunny!
- Het konijntje eet een wortel.The bunny is eating a carrot.
Example conversation
Sophie and Levi are looking at a pet shop window.
- SophieKijk, dat konijntje is heel zacht!Look, that bunny is very soft!
- LeviJa, het is een schattig konijntje.Yes, it is a cute bunny.
- SophieZullen we een konijntje kopen?Shall we buy a bunny?
- LeviDat lijkt me een goed idee.That sounds like a good idea to me.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry konijntje, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
