das
Küken
🐣 What Exactly is a "Küken"?
The German word das Küken primarily means a very young chicken, i.e., a newly hatched chick. It's often associated with cuteness and springtime.
Figuratively, "Küken" can also be used, sometimes slightly derogatorily, for a very young, inexperienced person (a beginner or novice), comparable to "greenhorn" or "rookie".
- Main meaning: Chick (young chicken).
- Figurative meaning: Inexperienced person, beginner (often affectionately mocking or slightly derogatory).
⚠️ Pay attention to the context to understand whether the animal or a person is meant.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Deverbal nouns → immer neutral.
These are nouns derived from verbs. They are also called Verbalsubstantive or Verbalnomen.
Diminutives (-chen, -lein, ...) → immer neutral.
Always when the word is diminished; often (but not always!) with the endings -chen, -lein, -li.
✍️ Grammar of "das Küken"
"Küken" is a neuter noun (sächlich) and therefore uses the article das. It follows weak declension patterns in the plural.
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | das | Küken |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | das | Küken |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | dem | Küken |
| Genitive (Possessive) | des | Kükens |
Declension Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Küken |
| Accusative | die | Küken |
| Dative | den | Küken |
| Genitive | der | Küken |
Example Sentences
- Das kleine Küken piepst nach seiner Mutter. (The little chick chirps for its mother.)
- Wir haben im Frühling viele flauschige Küken auf dem Bauernhof gesehen. (We saw many fluffy chicks on the farm in spring.)
- Der Chef nannte den neuen Praktikanten scherzhaft "unser Küken". (The boss jokingly called the new intern "our chick/rookie".)
- Die Glucke passt gut auf ihre Küken auf. (The mother hen takes good care of her chicks.)
💬 How to Use "Küken"?
Animal World:
- Standard term for young chickens.
- Can sometimes be used for the young of other birds, although more specific terms (e.g., Entenküken for ducklings, Gössel for goslings) exist.
- Context: Farm, nature, biology class, Easter.
Figurative Meaning (People):
- Often refers to a newcomer in a group, e.g., at work, in a club, or at school.
- Can be affectionately mocking ("Er ist noch das Küken im Team." - He's still the rookie on the team.)
- Can also sound condescending, depending on tone and context. 🚨 Use with caution!
- Used less frequently than the animal meaning.
Comparison:
🧠 Mnemonics for "das Küken"
For the article 'das': Remember that many small, cute things in German are neuter (like diminutives ending in -chen and -lein). Imagine: DAS kleine, süße Küken – DAS just fits! It's a small, neutral thing before it grows up.
For the meaning: The word "Küken" sounds a bit like the 'cooing' or 'peeking' (kucken means 'to peek/look' informally in German) of a little bird curiously looking out of its egg. Kük-kuck! 🐥
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Words)
Similar Confusing Words
- Kücken: An archaic or dialectal spelling of Küken.
- Küche (die): Kitchen (completely different meaning!).
😂 A Little Chick Joke
DE: Fragt ein Küken das andere: "Glaubst du an ein Leben nach dem Ei?"
EN: One chick asks the other: "Do you believe in life after the egg?"
📜 A Poem About the Küken
DE:
Klein und gelb, so weich und zart,
piepst das Küken seine Art.
Kaum geschlüpft, schon auf den Beinen,
will die Welt erkunden, die feine.
Unter Mutters Flügel warm,
ist es sicher vor Alarm.
EN:
Small and yellow, so soft and tender,
the chick chirps in its manner.
Barely hatched, already on its feet,
wants to explore the world so neat.
Under mother's wing so warm,
it is safe from any harm.
❓ Chick Riddle
DE:
Ich komme aus einem Ei,
bin gelb und flauschig, ohwei!
Ich piepse laut und lauf geschwind,
bin ein Hühnerkind.
Wer bin ich?
Lösung: Das Küken
EN:
I come out of an egg,
I'm yellow and fluffy, oh my!
I chirp loudly and run swiftly,
I am a chicken's child.
Who am I?
Solution: The chick (das Küken)
💡 Other Interesting Facts About "das Küken"
Word Origin: The word "Küken" is a diminutive form, possibly evolved from the Middle Low German word "kūken". Although it doesn't have the typical diminutive ending "-chen" or "-lein", it expresses smallness.
Cultural Significance: Küken (chicks) are a strong symbol of spring, new life, and Easter (Ostern) in German-speaking countries.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Küken?
The word "Küken" is a neuter noun, so it always takes the article das. The correct form is: das Küken.