German · People & Family
"Girl" in German: Mädchen
das Mädchen
Girl in German is das Mädchen, neuter. The plural is also Mädchen. It is a diminutive historically—still the standard word.
Schoolyard
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How to pronounce Mädchen
Say it
MAID-khen
/ˈmɛːtçən/
MAID-khen. Ä like eh. Soft ch as in ich. Final en light. Stress Mai-.
"Girl" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| das Mädchen | the girl Neuter noun; plural same form. | Neuter noun; plural same form. |
| Mädchen | girls (plural) Die Mädchen. | Die Mädchen. |
| junge Frau | young woman More grown-up alternative. | More grown-up alternative. |
| Tochter | daughter Family role, not synonym. | Family role, not synonym. |
How to use Mädchen in real life
- 1Schoolyard
Das Mädchen mit den Zöpfen winkt dir.
The girl with the braids is waving at you.
Das Mädchen.
- 2Sports
Zwei Mädchen spielen Federball.
Two girls are playing badminton.
Mädchen plural.
- 3Introductions
Das ist Mira, ein Mädchen aus meiner Klasse.
This is Mira, a girl from my class.
Ein Mädchen.
Mistakes English speakers make with Mädchen
Incorrect: Die Mädchen ist nett. (singular)
Correct: Das Mädchen ist nett.
Singular Mädchen takes das, even though it ends like a plural diminutive.
Incorrect: Der Mädchen lacht.
Correct: Das Mädchen lacht.
Neuter: das Mädchen.
Good to know
Because Mädchen is grammatically neuter, pronouns often start as es, then switch to sie once the person is known—both happen in real speech. For teenagers, junge Frau can feel more respectful than Mädchen.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Helping at a kids' birthday party
ChatPal
Welches Mädchen hat noch kein Stück Kuchen?
Which girl still doesn't have a piece of cake?
You
Das Mädchen im roten Kleid.
The girl in the red dress.
ChatPal
Okay. Die anderen Mädchen warten schon auf Spiele.
Okay. The other girls are already waiting for games.
You
Dann holen wir das Mädchen schnell dazu.
Then we'll quickly bring that girl over.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Girl" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Girl" in German
Why das Mädchen not die?
It is historically a diminutive with -chen, which makes neuter gender.
How do you say girls?
Die Mädchen—same form as singular.
Is Mädchen okay for teens?
Often yes among kids; for older teens junge Frau can be safer.
What pronoun should I use?
Grammatically es; many speakers use sie when talking about a specific girl.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
