In our last article, we looked at how to form the German diminutive. In this article we’ll elaborate on what the diminutive can be used for.
As we’ve learned already, the diminutive in its core meaning indicates that the object or living being is particularly small. For example, Häuschen (little house) denotes a small Haus (house), Kätzchen (little cat) a small Katze (cat) etc.
But a diminutive can mean much more, as the decision to focus on the small size isn’t always objective. The diminutive can imply cuteness, intimacy, understatement, downplaying, as well as devaluation and threat.
In the following sections, we’ll look at the different functions of the diminutive.
Expressing Cuteness
Due to our innate instincts, we find small beings, but also small objects, particularly cute. The diminutive Kätzchen (little cat), for example, doesn’t just mean that the cat is small, but also emphasizes its cuteness.
This is particularly true for animals that we naturally find cute. As a result, diminutives such as Kätzchen (little cat), Hündchen (little dog), Häschen (little rabbit), Mäuschen (little mouse), and Vögelchen (little bird) are quite common. The diminutives Elefäntchen (little elephant), Giräffchen (little giraffe), or Wälchen (little whale), on the other hand, are barely used at all.
Diminutives in Children’s Talk
Due to its function of expressing cuteness, the diminutive is often used when talking to children. The following sentence would definitely not be said to an adult, but only to a child:
Tut dir dein Bäuchlein weh?
(Does your tummy hurt?)
One might think that the diminutive is used only because children have little bellies. However, when parents tell a doctor that their child’s belly hurts, they would say Bauch (belly) rather than Bäuchlein (little belly or tummy).
This example shows that it’s not just the size of the belly that matters, but also the aspect of making it cuter.
Expressing Intimacy
Another reason why the diminutive is often used when talking to children is because it can also express familiarity or intimacy.
Diminutives often convey a feeling of protection and care. By describing something or someone as small and cute, you implicitly express that you want to protect and care for that person or object.
As a result, the diminutive is often used as a form of endearment among lovers to make the relationship more intimate and affectionate. Here are a few common addresses among romantic partners:
- Schätzchen (literally little treasure)
- Liebchen (literally little love)
- Mäuschen (literally little mouse)
By using the diminutive, the relationship between the speakers is marked as particularly close and intimate. This form of language signals that the individuals know each other quite well and that there’s a close personal bond between them.
Diminutives for Understatements
The diminutive can also be used to downplay or understate the extent or seriousness of something. Here are a few examples:
- Ich habe ein kleines Wehwehchen.
(I have little aches and pains.) - Wir müssen noch ein Stückchen fahren.
(We still have to drive a little bit.) - Ich hatte ein kleines Problemchen mit dem Auto.
(I had a little problem with the car.)
The correct interpretation, of course, is dependent on the individual contexts in which these sentences are said. It’s possible that the pain is indeed not that bad, that there’s only a small distance left to travel, and that the problem with the car was nothing serious.
However, it’s also possible that the speaker just wants to downplay their extent and that the pain may be much bigger, the distance much longer, and the problem much more serious.
In some sentences, only one of the two interpretations makes sense, as in the following sentence:
Danach hatten wir noch immer ein hübsches Sümmchen übrig.
(After that, we still had a nice little sum left.)
In this sentence, the speaker means the exact opposite of what the diminutive usually expresses: ein hübsches Sümmchen (a nice little sum) suggests that the speaker had a considerable amount of money left, not a small amount.
Diminutives for Devaluation
By using diminutives to make words seem cuter, you can also undermine their seriousness or authority, thereby devaluing them. Here are two examples:
- Das ist ja ein niedliches kleines Häuschen, kein richtiges Haus.
(That’s a cute little house, not a real house.) - Unser neues Chefchen hat ja tolle Ideen.
(Our new bossling has such great ideas.)
By referring to the house as Häuschen (little house), you can express that it doesn’t meet the criteria of a real house. This often conveys a derogatory or condescending attitude towards the object. It can also imply that the house doesn’t meet the speaker’s expectations or standards.
Similarly, calling a manager Chefchen (little boss) implies that the person doesn’t possess the necessary qualifications for the position and isn’t taken seriously. The diminutive Chefchen makes it clear that the phrase tolle Ideen (great ideas) is meant in a sarcastic way and underlines the contempt for the manager.
Diminutives for Threats
Similarly, a diminutive can also be used to dismiss the other person and threaten them. Here’s an example:
Freundchen, so geht das nicht.
(Buddy, you can’t do that.)
The diminutive Freundchen (little friend) is used almost exclusively in a threatening, possibly slightly aggressive context. The person being addressed is most likely not a friend of the speaker.
Rather, the speaker uses this term to invade the person’s private sphere and get uncomfortable close to them. The close relationship already expressed by the term Freund (friend) is further reinforced by the diminutive. On the other hand, the diminutive also dismisses the person as small and not to be taken seriously.
Similarly, diminutives such as Kerlchen (little guy), Bürschchen (little guy), or Schätzchen (little sweetie) can also be used in a condescending or threatening tone.
Lexicalized Diminutives
Some diminutives have become lexicalized over time, meaning they’re now seen as separate words. In some cases, the original noun still exists, but the diminutive has acquired a distinct meaning. Here are a few examples:
- Brötchen: bread roll
- Frauchen: female dog owner
- Fräulein: unmarried woman (rarely used today)
- Herrchen: male dog owner
- Hörnchen: croissant
- Höschen: panties
- Körbchen: bra cup
- Männchen: male animal
- Stäbchen: chopstick
In other cases, the original noun has entirely disappeared or become extremely rare. Here are a few examples:
- Eichhörnchen: squirrel (originally: Eichhorn)
- Kaninchen: rabbit (originally: Kanin)
- Märchen: fairy tale; from Mär (myth)
- Nickerchen: nap
- Plätzchen: cookie
- Radieschen: radish (originally: Radies)
- Weibchen: female animal; from Weib (old term for Frau)
- Veilchen: type of flower
There are also some compound nouns where only the diminutive is used, while the original noun is still used on its own:
- Erdmännchen: meerkat
- Essstäbchen: chopstick
- Fischstäbchen: fish stick
- Maiglöckchen: type of flower
- Meerschweinchen: guinea pig
- Ohrläppchen: ear lobe
- Rotkehlchen: type of bird
- Schneeglöckchen: type of flower
- Seepferdchen: sea horse
- Silberfischchen: type of insect
- Stiefmütterchen: type of flower
The noun Mädchen (girl) is also a lexicalized diminutive, which also explains why its singular article is das rather than die. We covered this in more detail in our last article.
Summary
While our last article was dedicated to the formation of the diminutive, this article took a closer look at the different uses of the diminutive. In its basic meaning, expresses the particularly small size of a thing or living being.
However, since emphasizing small size isn’t always neutral, the diminutive can be used in various ways. It can indicate cuteness, intimacy, downplaying, understatement, devaluation, and threat.
Some diminutives have become lexicalized and detached from the original noun. In some cases, the original noun has disappeared completely.
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