die
Nichte
👨👩👧👦 What exactly is a Nichte?
Die Nichte (plural: die Nichten) refers to the daughter of one's own brother or sister. So, it's a female relative of the second degree in the collateral line (a niece).
There is only one article, 'die', for this word because it always refers to a female person. The male counterpart is der Neffe (nephew).
🚨 Be careful not to confuse 'Nichte' with 'nicht' (the negation particle)!
Article rules for der, die, and das
Women → almost always feminine.
Caution: Most professions also have their feminine forms (e.g. die Polizistin). Some words can also have two forms: der/die Deutsche, der/die Kranke.
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
🧐 Grammar: Declension of 'die Nichte'
The noun 'Nichte' is feminine and follows the n-declension in the plural (it adds an -n in all plural cases except Nominative).
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | die | Nichte |
| Genitive (Whose?) | der | Nichte |
| Dative (To/for whom?) | der | Nichte |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | die | Nichte |
Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Nichten |
| Genitive | der | Nichten |
| Dative | den | Nichten |
| Accusative | die | Nichten |
💬 Example Sentences
- Meine Nichte kommt am Wochenende zu Besuch. (My niece is coming to visit this weekend.)
- Das ist das Fahrrad der Nichte meines Freundes. (That is the bike of my friend's niece.)
- Ich habe der Nichte ein Buch geschenkt. (I gave the niece a book.)
- Ich sehe meine Nichte nicht oft. (I don't see my niece often.)
- Die beiden Nichten verstehen sich gut. (The two nieces get along well.)
- Die Geschenke der Nichten lagen unter dem Baum. (The nieces' presents were under the tree.)
- Er hilft seinen Nichten bei den Hausaufgaben. (He helps his nieces with their homework.)
- Wir laden unsere Nichten zum Essen ein. (We invite our nieces for dinner.)
💡 How to Use 'Nichte'?
The word 'Nichte' is used exclusively in the context of family relationships. It describes a specific kinship.
- Typical Usage: In conversations about family, at family gatherings, in letters or emails to relatives.
- Context: Always refers to the daughter of siblings.
- Differentiation: The male counterpart is 'der Neffe' (nephew). Don't confuse it with 'Cousine' (female cousin - daughter of aunt/uncle).
- Formality: The word is common in both formal and informal contexts.
🧠 Mnemonics for Nichte
Article Mnemonic: Think of 'die' as the standard feminine article in German. A Nichte is female, so she gets 'die'.
Meaning Mnemonic: 'Nichte' sounds a bit like 'niece-ty' or 'nice-ty'. Imagine your nice little niece – she is your Nichte.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Terms)
Direct synonyms for 'Nichte' are rare in German. You can describe the relationship:
⚠️ Similar Words (Risk of Confusion)
- Nicht: The negation particle (not). Sounds similar but has a completely different meaning and function.
- Cousine: Daughter of an aunt or uncle (female cousin). A different type of relative.
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt die Tante ihre kleine Nichte: "Na, wie heißt du denn?"
Antwortet die Nichte: "So wie Mama!"
Tante: "Und wie heißt Mama?"
Nichte: "Das weißt du doch, Tante!"
Translation:
The aunt asks her little niece: "Well, what's your name?"
The niece replies: "Same as Mommy!"
Aunt: "And what's Mommy's name?"
Niece: "You know that, Auntie!"
📜 Poem about the Nichte
Die Nichte, ein Lachen, so hell und klar,
Tochter von Bruder oder Schwester, wunderbar.
Sie bringt Freude ins Haus, mit Charme und Esprit,
Ein Teil der Familie, verbunden sind wir.
Translation:
The niece, a laugh, so bright and clear,
Daughter of brother or sister, wonderful dear.
She brings joy to the house, with charm and wit,
A part of the family, together we sit (or: we are connected).
❓ Riddle Time
Ich bin die Tochter deines Bruders,
oder die deiner Schwester, kein Lug und Trug ist das.
Männlich bin ich nicht, das ist klar,
wie nennt man mich wohl, Jahr für Jahr?
Translation:
I am the daughter of your brother,
Or that of your sister, that's no lie or other.
I am not male, that much is clear,
What am I called, year after year?
Solution: die Nichte (the niece)
🧩 Other Information
- Etymology: The word 'Nichte' comes from the Old High German 'nift', which generally referred to female relatives. The specific meaning used today developed later.
- Counterpart: The male counterpart is 'der Neffe' (nephew).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Nichte?
The word "Nichte" refers to a female relative (niece) and therefore always takes the feminine article die. The correct forms are: die Nichte (singular) and die Nichten (plural).