-chen and -lein make the noun small: the diminutive

Badeenten groß und klein als Beispiel für die Verkleinerungsformen

die Ente - das Entchen / das Entlein

Thediminutive form of nouns makes the noun "small".

How do I form the diminutive?

You can form a diminutive form (= a form that makes the noun smaller) from any German noun.

To do this, you add the syllable -chen or -lein to the noun.

Examples:

der Tisch- das Tischchen - das Tischlein

das Pferd - das Pferdchen - das Pferdlein

die Tür - das Türchen - das Türlein

When do I need an umlaut?

If the stem vowel of the noun is a, o, or u it becomes an umlaut:

a → ä
o → ö
u → ü

Example:
der Platz - das Plätzchen - das Plätzlein
das Tor - das Törchen - das Törlein
der Bruder – das Brüderchen – das Brüderlein

Schuhe - Erwachsene und Kinder als Beispiel für die Verkleicherungsformen

der Schuh - das Schühchen

If the stem vowel of the noun is -au- it becomes -äu-:
Das Haus – das Häuschen – das Häuslein

If the stem vowel of the noun is e, i, ä, ö, und ü it stays the same.

How to form the Dimiutive

When is the vowel at the end of the noun omitted?

The vowel at the end of the noun is omitted if it's unstressed:

Example:

der Hase – das Häschen – das Häslein

die Dose – das Döschen, das Döslein

When can I not form a diminutive?

You can't add a -chen oder -lein to a noun that already has one:

Example:

Das Mädchen

Das Eichhörnchen

What happens to words ending in -ch or -che?

For these words we use -lein, so that it's easier to pronounce them.

Example:

der Bach – das Bächlein

das Buch – das Büchlein

die Kirche - das Kirchlein

das Dach – das Dächlein

Are there any other forms than -chen or -lein?

In some regions and dialects you can use instead:

-le (Schwäbisch)
Beispiel:
der Tisch – das Tischle
das Haus – das Häusle
das Mädchen – das Mädle

-erl (Bayern, Österreich)
der Sack – das Sackerl

das Päckchen - das Packerl

die Lampe - das Lamperl

Different varieties to -chen oder -lein

Article of the diminutive

The diminutiv if a noun is always neutral.

Therefore the article is always 'das'.

It doesn't matter which gender the noun has in its' original form.

der Hund → das Hündchen, das Hündlein

die Wurst → das Würstchen, das Würstlein

das Brot → das Brötchen, das Brötlein

Learn more about the articlea aund gramatical gender >>>

Tipp:

If a noun ends in -chen or -lein, it's always neutral.

The article is: das

Articles + Diminutive

When do I use the diminutive?

We use the diminutive form to show that something is small - that's clear.
"Das Büchlein" has a smaller format than most books.

It is also used when dealing with young people or animals .
"Drei Vögelchen sitzen im Nest"

But we often want to emphasize that something is particularly cute or sweet :
"Oh - das ist ein süßes Häuschen!"

Things that are for children are often called like this:
"ch habe für meine Tochter ein Kleidchen gekauft."

We also use the diminutive for pet names , i.e. to address someone affectionately:
Mein Schatz- mein Schätzchen
Marie - Mariechen

But you can also use this form negatively or ironically.
"Mein Freundchen, komm bitte her!!!" - doesn't sound friendly to the children at all.

Greetings can also sound more informal and nicer with it:
Hellöchen - Tschüsschen, Tagchen

Is there also a "magnification form" in German?

No, there is no form in German that makes nouns bigger.
Instead we use adjectives like: (sehr) groß, riesig, massiv, enorm, …

A form to make things "bigger"?

When do I use the Diminutive?

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Summary:

The diminutive is formed by adding -chen and -lein.
In some dialects the final syllables – le or -erl are used
An unstressed vowel at the end of the noun is dropped.
the stem vowel becomes the corresponding umlaut.
Usage: especially for small things, young people/animals, to trivialize something, as a term of endearment (= affectionate), as an understatement, as an evaluation.

Summary

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