Kind vs. Junge vs. Mädchen: child, boy, girl
In German, Kind means “child” and is gender-neutral. Junge means “boy,” and Mädchen means “girl.” Junge is masculine, Mädchen is feminine, and Kind can refer to either gender. Jungen is plural for Junge, and Mädchen is plural for Mädchen (same form). Kind plural is Kinder.
Usage and Meaning
Kind means “child” and refers to any young person, regardless of gender.
Junge means “boy,” specifically a male child.
Mädchen means “girl,” specifically a female child.
| German Word | English Meaning | Gender | Plural Form | Example (Singular) | Example (Plural) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kind | child | neuter (das) | Kinder | Das Kind spielt. (The child is playing.) | Die Kinder spielen. (The children are playing.) |
| Junge | boy | masculine (der) | Jungen | Der Junge rennt. (The boy runs.) | Die Jungen rennen. (The boys run.) |
| Mädchen | girl | neuter (das) | Mädchen | Das Mädchen lacht. (The girl laughs.) | Die Mädchen lachen. (The girls laugh.) |
Gender Note for Mädchen
Although Mädchen means “girl,” it is grammatically neuter (das Mädchen) due to the diminutive suffix -chen, which always makes nouns neuter.
Grammar and Declension
Definite Articles
| Case | Kind (child) | Junge (boy) | Mädchen (girl) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | das Kind | der Junge | das Mädchen |
| Accusative | das Kind | den Jungen | das Mädchen |
| Dative | dem Kind | dem Jungen | dem Mädchen |
| Genitive | des Kindes | des Jungen | des Mädchens |
Plural Formation
- Kind → Kinder: add -er and change vowel sound (umlaut ✦ ^ e a i o u ß ä ö ü).
- Junge → Jungen: add -n.
- Mädchen → Mädchen: plural is same as singular.
Putting It All Together
| German Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Das Kind geht zur Schule. (The child goes to school.) | The child goes to school. |
| Der Junge spielt Fußball. (The boy plays soccer.) | The boy plays soccer. |
| Das Mädchen liest ein Buch. (The girl reads a book.) | The girl reads a book. |
Summary:
- Use Kind for a child of any gender.
- Use Junge for a boy.
- Use Mädchen for a girl (note: neuter gender due to -chen).
- Keep an eye on articles and plural forms to match the noun.
Das Kind geht zur Schule.
The child goes to school.
"Kind" means "child," so the sentence translates to "The child goes to school."
Why is "Mädchen" grammatically neuter even though it means "girl?"
Because of the diminutive suffix "-chen."
The suffix "-chen" makes nouns diminutive and always neuter, regardless of meaning.
Flashcards (1 of 6)
- Gender: neuter (das)
- Plural Form: Kinder
- Example (Singular): Das Kind spielt. (The child is playing.)
- Example (Plural): Die Kinder spielen. (The children are playing.)
- English Meaning: child
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
