-chen

German

Etymology

Originally from Northern Germany, has today mostly replaced the older -lein. Cognate with Dutch -tje and -ke.

Pronunciation

• IPA: [çn̩], [çən]

Suffix

-chen

1. the most common German suffix to create a diminutive form; e.g., Hund → Hündchen

Usage notes

Words that end in the suffix -chen always become neuter. This is why the common German word for girl, Mädchen, is neuter and not feminine: the non-diminutive word is feminine: Magd. Words that end in the suffix -chen are identical in the singular and in the plural: das Mädchen is 'the girl', die Mädchen are 'the girls'.

Derived terms

• Häuschen
• Hündchen
• Küsschen
• Lämpchen
• Mädchen
• Männchen
• Minibildchen
• Tischchen

See also

• -i
• -lein
• -erl

Luxembourgish

Suffix

-chen

1. the most common suffix to create the diminutive form in Luxembourgish; eg. Kaz → Kätzchen