Mädchen
/ˈmɛːtçən/neuter
The German phrase for "little girl" is Mädchen. Wiktionary also lists Mädelein.
Meaning: a female child (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Mädchen | /ˈmɛːtçən/ /ˈmeːtçən/ |
neuter |
| Mädelein | neuter |
The term is used to refer to a female child. Informally, one might also use the term Kleine to mean "little one".
Which one should you use?
While Mädchen is the standard term, Mädelein is a diminutive form.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of southern Germany or Austria, the word Mädl is used instead of Mädchen to express "little girl".
How does it change in a sentence?
Even though the word refers to a female person, the noun Mädchen is grammatically neuter.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmɛːtçən/
Did you know?
- The word Mädchen is a diminutive of Magd, which originally meant 'maiden' but shifted over time to mean 'maidservant'.
- The suffix -chen used to create Mädchen automatically forces any noun to become neuter, regardless of the original gender.
- In older literature and poetry, the diminutive Mädelein was often used to evoke a sense of innocence or romanticism.
Examples in context
- Ich lächle das kleine Mädchen an.I am smiling at that little girl.This sentence shows how to use Mädchen when smiling at someone.Tatoeba #1673115 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1665975 by Amastan
- Ich bin kein kleines Mädchen mehr.I'm not a little girl anymore.This sentence illustrates the use of Mädchen when speaking about oneself.Tatoeba #3854511 by Tamy, translation #3826701 by CK
- Was für ein süßes kleines Mädchen!What a cute little girl!This sentence demonstrates how to use Mädchen in an exclamation about a cute child.Tatoeba #5363081 by RandomUsername, translation #24957 by CK
- Die Kleine hat heute Geburtstag.The little girl has her birthday today.
- 74 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felix and Hannah are watching children play in a park.
- FelixSiehst du das kleine Mädchen dort?Do you see that little girl there?
- HannahJa, das Mädchen spielt mit dem Ball.Yes, the little girl is playing with the ball.
- FelixSie ist sehr glücklich.She is very happy.
- HannahDas ist ein schönes Mädchen.That is a lovely girl.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “little girl” translations and entries Mädchen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Mädchen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
