German · Emotions & Descriptions
"Small" in German: klein
klein
Small in German is klein. Inflected forms include kleine, kleines, and kleinen. In cafés you order ein kleines Bier or eine kleine Portion.
Ordering
Ich hätte gern eine kleine Pizza.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce klein
Say it
kline
/klaɪn/
kline. Long i as in "machine". Clear final n. One syllable.
"Small" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| klein | small, little Base adjective. | Base adjective. |
| kleine / kleines / kleinen | small (inflected) Gender and case endings. | Gender and case endings. |
| kleiner | smaller; little (masc.) Comparative or masculine ending. | Comparative or masculine ending. |
| am kleinsten | smallest Superlative predicate. | Superlative predicate. |
How to use klein in real life
- 1Ordering
Ich hätte gern eine kleine Pizza.
I'd like a small pizza.
Kleine before feminine Pizza.
- 2Apartment
Die Küche ist echt klein.
The kitchen is really small.
Predicate klein needs no ending.
- 3Comparing
Dein Rucksack ist kleiner als meiner.
Your backpack is smaller than mine.
Kleiner comparative.
Mistakes English speakers make with klein
Incorrect: ein klein Auto
Correct: ein kleines Auto
Neuter needs -es: kleines Auto.
Incorrect: Ich bin small.
Correct: Ich bin klein.
Use klein, not English small.
Good to know
Klein can describe age affectionately: als ich klein war. Shop staff may ask Groß oder klein? for sizes. A kleines Café suggests cozy more than tiny quality.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Buying a plant pot
ChatPal
Brauchst du den großen Topf oder den kleinen?
Do you need the big pot or the small one?
You
Den kleinen. Die Pflanze ist noch klein.
The small one. The plant is still small.
ChatPal
Okay. Dieser kleine Topf hat ein Loch unten.
Okay. This small pot has a hole at the bottom.
You
Perfekt. Klein reicht völlig.
Perfect. Small is totally enough.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Small" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Small" in German
How do endings work with klein?
Like other adjectives: kleine, kleines, kleinen depending on gender and case.
How do you say smaller?
Kleiner.
How do you order a small beer?
Ein kleines Bier, bitte.
Can klein mean young?
In phrases like als ich klein war, yes—when I was little.
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- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
