Diminutives

Diminutives make nouns smaller, cuter, or more affectionate, and they follow predictable patterns in German. This guide goes over the main endings, how they affect gender and meaning, and useful examples.

Diminutives

Diminutives in German are formed by adding endings like -chen or -lein to a noun, which typically makes the noun look small or endearing. The diminutive form also changes the noun's gender to neuter.

German Word(s)	Diminutive	English Word(s)
die Katze	das Kätzchen	cat / kitten
der Hund	das Hündchen	dog / little dog
die Blume	das Blümchen	flower / little flower
der Tisch	das Tischlein	table / little table

German Example	English Translation
🌸 Das Blümchen ist hübsch.	The little flower is pretty.
🧸 Das Bärchen schläft.	The little bear is sleeping.
🍞 Ich habe ein Brötchen gekauft.	I bought a small bread roll.
🐦 Das Vögelchen singt schön.	The little bird sings nicely.

Gender

When you form a diminutive with -chen or -lein, the noun becomes neuter and takes the article das, even if the original noun was masculine or feminine. This makes diminutives easy to spot and consistent in grammar.

Original Gender	Original Article	Diminutive Ending	Diminutive Article
feminine	die	-chen / -lein	das
masculine	der	-chen / -lein	das
neuter	das	-chen / -lein	das

German Example	English Translation
🧸 Der Bär, das Bärchen.	The bear, the little bear.
🐍 Die Schlange, das Schlangchen.	The snake, the little snake.
🍎 Der Apfel, das Äpfelchen.	The apple, the little apple.
🌼 Die Blume, das Blümchen.	The flower, the little flower.

Alternate Endings

Some regional or informal diminutives use endings like -el, -erl, or -la, especially in dialects such as Bavarian or Swabian. These forms may keep the original gender instead of becoming neuter.

German Word(s)	Diminutive	Region / Note	Article
die Katze	die Katzelel	dialect / rare	die
der Hund	der Hundi	informal / Swiss	der
die Blume	die Blüml	dialect	die
der Tisch	der Tischl	Bavarian	der

German Example	English Translation
🧸 Das Bärchen und das Bärle.	The little bear (standard and Swabian).
🐸 Das Fröckchen und das Fröckle.	The little dress (standard and Swabian).
🐶 Das Hündchen und das Hündle.	The little dog (standard and Swabian).
🍰 Das Stückchen und das Stückle.	The little piece (standard and Swabian).

Usage

Use diminutives to sound affectionate, to talk about small things, or to soften requests. They appear frequently in everyday speech, stories, and when addressing children or pets. Choosing the diminutive form changes the tone and sometimes the nuance of size or fondness.

German Example	English Translation
🛏️ Ich schlafe in meinem Bettchen.	I sleep in my little bed.
🍵 Wir trinken Tee aus den Tässchen.	We drink tea from the little cups.
🎁 Sie bekam ein Päckchen geschenkt.	She received a little package as a gift.
🐣 Das Küken versteckt sich im Stroh.	The little chick hides in the straw.

Summary

Diminutives add -chen or -lein to make nouns small or cute, they turn the noun neuter with das, and alternate endings appear in dialects while sometimes retaining the original gender. Practicing common diminutives helps you recognize and use these forms naturally in German.

Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025