German edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

Kind +‎ -lein

Pronunciation edit

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

Noun edit

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 edit

  • 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 edit

Further reading edit

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