How to Say "Trinket" in German

Schmuck

/ʃmʊkʰ/masculine

The English word 'trinket' can be translated into German using Schmuck. Wiktionary also lists Schmuckgegenstand and Schmuckstück.

Meaning: small, showy ornament, especially a piece of jewellery (noun)

Ways to say it

The terms refer to small, showy ornaments, especially pieces of jewellery.

While Schmuck is the general term for jewelry and is often used as an uncountable mass noun, Schmuckstück refers to a single piece of jewelry.

The neuter noun Schmuckstück takes the genitive singular ending -s, forming Schmuckstücks to mean 'of the piece of jewelry'.

/ʃmʊkʰ/

The adjective schmuck can be used to describe a person's appearance as 'neat' or 'tidy'. In this context, it describes someone who looks well-groomed rather than someone wearing jewelry.
The root of Schmuck comes from an Old Saxon word meaning 'flexible' or 'bendsome'. It originally described things that were supple and pleasing to the touch.
The verb schmücken means 'to decorate' and is most commonly used today when talking about putting up a Christmas tree, known as den Weihnachtsbaum schmücken.

Das ist ein kleines Schmuckstück, das ich von meiner Großmutter geerbt habe.
This is a small trinket that I inherited from my grandmother.
Sie trägt immer diese kitschigen Klunker.
She always wears these tacky trinkets.
Die Wiener Märkte bieten zahlreiche Kinkerlitzchen an.
Vienna's markets offer numerous trinkets.

Julia and Maximilian are looking at a souvenir shop window.

Julia

Schau mal, dieser kleine Schmuck ist süß!
Look, this little trinket is cute!
Maximilian

Was kostet das Teil?
How much does that thing cost?
Julia

Nur fünf Euro für diesen Schmuck.
Only five euros for this trinket.
Maximilian

Dann kauf es als Geschenk.
Then buy it as a gift.

Sources

⭐Share⭐ to appreciate human effort 🙏