Kindlein

German

Alternative forms

Etymology

Kind +‎ -lein

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈkɪntlaɪ̯n/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: Kind‧lein

Noun

Kindlein n (strong, genitive Kindleins, plural Kinderlein or Kindlein)

  1. diminutive of Kind
    • (Can we date this quote?), “Schlaf, Kindlein, schlaf”, traditional (lyrics), Johann Friedrich Reichardt (music):
      Schlaf, Kindlein, schlaf, / Der Vater hüt die Schaaf, / Die Mutter schüttelts Bäumelein, / Da fällt herab ein Träumelein, / Schlaf, Kindlein, schlaf.
      Sleep my child, sleep / Your father tends the sheep, / Your mother shakes the apple tree, / As falls down a dream for thee / Sleep my child, sleep

Usage notes

  • The plural Kinderlein is more common than unchanged Kindlein. (This is an exceptional case: other plurals with infixed -er-, such as Lämmerchen, are less common than the respective unchanged form.)

Declension

Declension of Kindlein [neuter, strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein das Kindlein die Kinderlein, Kindlein
genitive eines des Kindleins der Kinderlein, Kindlein
dative einem dem Kindlein den Kinderlein, Kindlein
accusative ein das Kindlein die Kinderlein, Kindlein

Further reading

  • “Kindlein” in Duden online
  • “Kindlein” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
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