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Mitbringsel
🎁 What is a Mitbringsel?
A Mitbringsel is a small gift or souvenir that you bring back for someone from a trip, an outing, or a visit. It's typically not something large or expensive, but rather a small token of appreciation showing that you thought of the person.
The article is always das: das Mitbringsel. There are no other articles for this word. It's a neuter noun.
It often involves typical items from the visited region (Souvenirs) or simply a small item that the recipient would enjoy.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: Das Mitbringsel
The noun "Mitbringsel" is neuter. Here is its declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | das | Mitbringsel |
| Genitive | des | Mitbringsels |
| Dative | dem | Mitbringsel |
| Accusative | das | Mitbringsel |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Mitbringsel |
| Genitive | der | Mitbringsel |
| Dative | den | Mitbringseln |
| Accusative | die | Mitbringsel |
📝 Example Sentences
- Ich habe dir ein kleines Mitbringsel aus dem Urlaub mitgebracht.
I brought you a small souvenir/gift from my vacation. - Die Kinder freuten sich über die bunten Mitbringsel vom Jahrmarkt.
The children were happy about the colorful little gifts from the fair. - Er sucht noch nach einem passenden Mitbringsel für seine Gastgeber.
He is still looking for a suitable small gift for his hosts. - Vergiss nicht, den Großeltern ein Mitbringsel zu besorgen!
Don't forget to get a little something for the grandparents!
🤔 How to Use "Mitbringsel"?
"Mitbringsel" is used to describe a gift you give someone after you've been somewhere (trip, visit, event).
- Context: Informal to neutral. You use it when talking to friends, family, or colleagues.
- Distinction: Unlike a planned "Geschenk" (gift, e.g., for a birthday), a "Mitbringsel" is often more spontaneous and smaller. It's more of a gesture. A "Souvenir" is often touristy and serves as a reminder of a place, whereas a "Mitbringsel" doesn't necessarily have to be typical of the location, it can just be a nice little something.
- Typical Situations: After a vacation (nach dem Urlaub), after visiting relatives (nach einem Besuch bei Verwandten), after a conference or trade fair (nach einer Konferenz oder Messe).
🧠 Memory Aids
Article 'das': Think of "das Ding" (the thing). A Mitbringsel is often a small thing, an object. Neutral things often take "das". Also, many German nouns ending in "-sel" are neuter (e.g., das Rätsel - the riddle, das Überbleibsel - the remnant).
Meaning: The word itself tells the story: You bring (bringen) something with (mit) you. So, it's something brought along from a trip. The "-sel" suffix turns it into a noun, an object.
🔄 Similar and Opposite Words
Synonyms:
- Andenken (das): Similar, but emphasizes the memory value (keepsake).
- Souvenir (das): Very similar, often interchangeable, but usually specifically tourist-related.
- Kleine Aufmerksamkeit (die): (A small token of attention/thoughtfulness) Describes the gesture well, but isn't a single word.
- Präsent (das): Sounds a bit more formal than Mitbringsel.
- Gabe (die): Rather old-fashioned or used in formal/charitable contexts (donation, gift).
Antonyms (in a broader sense):
Direct antonyms are difficult. One might look for conceptual opposites:
- Großes Geschenk (das): (Big gift) Emphasizes the contrast in value or size.
- Leere Hände: (Empty hands) When bringing nothing.
- Hauptgeschenk (das): (Main gift) As opposed to a small, secondary item.
Potentially Confusing Words:
- Mitbringpflicht (die): Doesn't really exist as a word, but describes the perceived social obligation to bring something back.
😂 A Little Chuckle
Warum hat der Tourist dem Eiffelturm ein Mitbringsel aus Berlin mitgebracht?
Damit der Turm auch mal was anderes sieht als nur Paris! 😉🗼🎁
Translation: Why did the tourist bring the Eiffel Tower a small gift (Mitbringsel) from Berlin?
So the tower could see something different than just Paris for a change!
📜 Poetic Words about Mitbringsel
Von fern gereist, aus Stadt und Land,
halt ich's nun froh in meiner Hand.
Kein Schatz, kein Gold, kein Edelstein,
nur ein Gedanke, lieb und klein.
Ein Mitbringsel, das sagt geschwind:
Ich hab gedacht an dich, mein Kind!
Translation:
Travelled from afar, from city and land,
I now hold it happily in my hand.
No treasure, no gold, no precious stone,
Just a thought, dear and small, my own.
A Mitbringsel, that quickly imparts:
I thought of you, dear child, in my heart!
❓ A Little Riddle
Ich komme von Reisen, nah und fern,
man gibt mich Freunden und Familie gern.
Ich bin kein Reichtum, oft nur klein,
doch zeig': Du warst nicht ganz allein
im Sinn des Schenkers unterwegs.
Wie heiß ich wohl? Ein Tipp: Es ist sächlich und fängt mit M an!
Translation:
I come from travels, near and far,
Given to friends and family, whoever they are.
I'm not wealth, often just small,
But show: You weren't alone at all
In the giver's mind while they were away.
What's my name? Hint: It's neuter and starts with M!
Solution: das Mitbringsel
✨ Interesting Facts about Mitbringsel
Word Origin
The word "Mitbringsel" is a compound of:
- mitbringen: The verb meaning "to bring along" or "to bring with".
- -sel: A suffix often used to form nouns denoting the result or object of an action (compare: Rätsel from raten (to guess), Überbleibsel from überbleiben (to remain)). It frequently leads to the neuter gender (das).
So, it literally describes "something to bring along" or "the thing brought along".
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Mitbringsel?
The word "Mitbringsel" is always neuter. The correct form is: das Mitbringsel (Nominative, Accusative), des Mitbringsels (Genitive), dem Mitbringsel (Dative). The plural form is die Mitbringsel.