German · People & Family

"Child" in German: Kind

das Kind

Say it: kintneuter · das Kindnoun/kɪnt/

Child in German is das Kind, neuter. The plural is die Kinder. Compounds like Kindergarten keep Kind at the front.

On a train

Ist der Platz für Ihr Kind frei?
Is this seat free for your child?
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How to pronounce Kind

Say it

kint

/kɪnt/

kint. Short i. Final d often sounds like a soft t. One syllable.

"Child" in German: quick reference

GermanEnglish
das Kindthe child

Neuter noun.

die Kinderthe children

Irregular-looking plural.

Kinderwagenstroller / pram

Everyday compound.

Kindergeldchild benefit

Admin compound.

How to use Kind in real life

  1. 1On a train

    Ist der Platz für Ihr Kind frei?

    Is this seat free for your child?

    Ihr Kind with formal Sie.

  2. 2Family size

    Wir haben zwei Kinder und einen Hund.

    We have two children and a dog.

    Kinder plural.

  3. 3School chat

    Mein Kind startet nächste Woche in der Schule.

    My child starts school next week.

    Mein Kind regardless of gender.

Mistakes English speakers make with Kind

Incorrect: Der Kind spielt.

Correct: Das Kind spielt.

Kind is neuter: das Kind.

Incorrect: Zwei Kinds spielen.

Correct: Zwei Kinder spielen.

Plural is Kinder, not Kinds.

Good to know

Das Kind stays neuter even when you know the gender; you switch to der Junge or das Mädchen when you want to specify. Signs say Kinderwagenplatz on buses and trains.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Waiting outside a music lesson

  1. ChatPal

    Ist das Ihr Kind am Klavier?

    Is that your child at the piano?

  2. You

    Ja. Das Kind übt seit einem Jahr.

    Yes. The child has been practising for a year.

  3. ChatPal

    Toll. Mein Kind will auch anfangen.

    Great. My child wants to start too.

  4. You

    Dann komm vorbei—die Kinder lernen gern zusammen.

    Then drop by—the children like learning together.

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"Child" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Child" in German

What gender is Kind?

Neuter: das Kind.

How do you say children?

Die Kinder.

How do you say boy / girl?

Der Junge / das Mädchen—more specific than Kind.

What does Kindergarten mean?

Literally children's garden—preschool.

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