kleiner Mann
The German phrase for 'little man' is kleiner Mann.
kleiner Mann is used to describe a man who is small in stature. If you wish to playfully address a young boy or a person of small stature as a 'little guy' or 'kid', you might use the colloquial term Knirps.
Did you know?
- In German literature, the 'little man' archetype, or der kleine Mann, often represents the ordinary citizen struggling against a giant bureaucracy.
- A German speaker might use the word klein to describe a person's character, meaning they are 'petty' or 'mean-spirited', rather than just physically small.
- While kleiner Mann is descriptive, the term Knirps mimics the sound of something small snapping or cracking.
Examples in context
- Hallo, kleiner Mann! Wie war dein Tag?Hello, little man! How was your day?
- Der kleine Knirps hat immer so viel Energie!That little guy always has so much energy!
- Er ist ein kleiner Mann.He is a little man.
