Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Wunderkind | /ˈvʊndərˌkɪnt/ | neuter |
| Hochbegabter | masculine | |
| Naturtalent | /naˈtuːrtaˌlɛnt/ | neuter |
The term refers to an extremely talented person, especially a child. Depending on the context, you might use different words to distinguish between a spectacular public talent, a clinical high IQ or a person with an innate knack for a specific skill.
What does it mean word for word?
The word Wunderkind is a compound of Wunder (wonder/miracle) and Kind (child).
Which one should you use?
Wunderkind implies a spectacular, often public display of talent (like a child musician). In contrast, Hochbegabter is a more clinical or neutral term for someone with a high IQ or high cognitive ability. Naturtalent refers to someone who has an innate knack for a specific skill, whereas Wunderkind specifically emphasizes the youth and the 'miraculous' nature of the talent.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Wunderkind is Wunderkinder.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈvʊndərˌkɪnt/
Did you know?
- The word Wunderkind became so globally recognized that it was adopted directly into English as a loanword, retaining its original German spelling and meaning.
- In German media, Wunderkind is not just for children but is frequently applied to star athletes who achieve massive fame overnight.
- While 'prodigy' in English is purely a noun, the German term Hochbegabter is actually a 'nominalized adjective'. This means it is a descriptor that has been grammatically promoted to a title.
Examples in context
- Tom war ein Wunderkind.Tom was a child prodigy.This sentence uses Wunderkind to describe a child prodigy.Tatoeba #7697297 by wolfgangth, translation #6473489 by Hybrid
- Mozart war ein Wunderkind.Mozart was a child prodigy.Tatoeba #7716681 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #6473510 by Hybrid
- Ich übertreibe nicht, wenn ich ihn ein Wunderkind nenne.I'm not exaggerating when I call him a prodigy.This sentence uses Wunderkind to describe a person being called a prodigy.Tatoeba #5285750 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #5277725 by AlanF_US
- Das junge Mädchen ist ein wahres Wunderkind.The young girl is a true prodigy.
- Er ist ein Genie auf dem Gebiet der Mathematik.He is a genius in the field of mathematics.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hannah and Felix are discussing a young pianist at a concert.
- HannahIst das kleine Mädchen wirklich ein Wunderkind?Is that little girl really a prodigy?
- FelixJa, sie spielt unglaublich gut.Yes, she plays incredibly well.
- HannahFelix, du musst das auch hören.Felix, you have to hear this too.
- FelixIch bin absolut beeindruckt.I am absolutely impressed.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “prodigy” translations and entries Wunderkind, Hochbegabter, Naturtalent, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
