Understanding the German nouns Kind, Junge, and Mädchen—how they differ in meaning, gender, and usage, with examples.
In German, there are different nouns for “child,” “boy,” and “girl.” The word Kind means “child” (gender-neutral), while Junge means “boy” and Mädchen means “girl.” These nouns differ not only in meaning but also in grammatical gender and plural forms.
Kind: child
- Meaning: “Kind” means “child” in a general, gender-neutral sense. It can refer to a boy or a girl.
- Gender: Neuter (das Kind).
- Plural: die Kinder.
- Example: Das Kind spielt im Garten. (The child is playing in the garden.)
___ spielt.
Choose the correct German word for "child" in the sentence: "The child is playing."
Kind
"Kind" means "child" in a general sense, so "Das Kind spielt" is correct.
Junge: boy
- Meaning: “Junge” specifically means “boy.” It is not used for girls or a general child.
- Gender: Masculine (der Junge).
- Plural: die Jungen.
- Example: Der Junge spielt Fußball. (The boy is playing soccer.)
Mädchen: girl
- Meaning: “Mädchen” means “girl.” It is used for female children only.
- Gender: Neuter (das Mädchen), due to the diminutive ending -chen.
- Plural: die Mädchen.
- Example: Das Mädchen liest ein Buch. (The girl is reading a book.)
___ liest ein Buch.
Choose the correct German word for "girl" in the sentence: "The girl is reading a book."
Das Mädchen
"Das Mädchen" means "the girl," which matches the sentence about reading a book.
Summary
| Noun | Meaning | Gender | Singular Article | Plural | Usage Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kind | child | Neuter | das | die Kinder | Das Kind spielt. |
| Junge | boy | Masculine | der | die Jungen | Der Junge spielt. |
| Mädchen | girl | Neuter | das | die Mädchen | Das Mädchen spielt. |
Understanding these nouns helps you refer to children accurately in German—whether you’re speaking about a child in general, a boy, or a girl.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
