German · Emotions & Descriptions
"Short" in German: klein
klein
Note: length: kurz
Short for size or a short person is often klein: eine kleine Pause, ein kleines Kind. For length of hair, films, or trips, kurz is more natural: kurzes Haar, ein kurzer Weg.
Coffee break
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How to pronounce klein
Say it
KLINE
/klaɪn/
KLINE. The ei sounds like English eye. Soft final n.
"Short" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| klein | short / small Size, height, short breaks. | Size, height, short breaks. |
| kleine / kleines / kleiner | short (inflected) Before nouns. | Before nouns. |
| kurz | short (length/duration) Hair, films, distances, time. | Hair, films, distances, time. |
| ein bisschen | a little bit Softening amounts, not size. | Softening amounts, not size. |
How to use klein in real life
- 1Coffee break
Machen wir eine kleine Pause?
Shall we take a short break?
Kleine Pause is everyday.
- 2Describing someone
Mein Bruder ist ziemlich klein.
My brother is fairly short.
Klein for height.
- 3Ordering
Ich nehme ein kleines Bier, bitte.
I'll take a small beer, please.
Kleines before neuter Bier.
Mistakes English speakers make with klein
Incorrect: ein klein Pause
Correct: eine kleine Pause
Before a noun klein needs an ending: kleine.
Incorrect: Meine Haare sind klein.
Correct: Meine Haare sind kurz.
For length of hair use kurz, not klein.
Good to know
Germans often use klein warmly for small portions and short breaks. Kurz is the go-to for time and length: bis gleich, ich bin nur kurz weg.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing a film
ChatPal
Willst du einen langen Film oder etwas Kleines?
Do you want a long film or something short?
You
Lieber etwas Kleines. Ich bin müde.
Something short preferably. I'm tired.
ChatPal
Okay, dann eine kleine Serie-Folge.
Okay, then a short series episode.
You
Perfekt. Kleine Folgen sind besser heute.
Perfect. Short episodes are better today.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Short" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Short" in German
Is short always klein?
For size/height often yes. For length/duration prefer kurz.
How do endings work?
Klein, kleine, kleines, kleiner, kleinen depending on gender and case.
Short break?
Eine kleine Pause or eine kurze Pause.
Short hair?
Kurze Haare, not kleine Haare.
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- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
