Mädel

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German

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Alternative forms

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  • Mädl (obsolete spelling)
  • Madl (Austro-Bavarian)
  • Madel (Austro-Bavarian)

Etymology

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Same as Mädchen with a different diminutive suffix.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈmɛːd(ə)l/, /ˈmeːd(ə)l/
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

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Mädel n (strong or mixed, genitive Mädels, plural Mädel or Mädels or Mädeln, diminutive Mädelchen n or Mädelein n)

  1. (colloquial, central Germany and southern) girl (especially member of a group of female friends)
    Heut Abend treff ich mich mit meinen Mädels.
    Tonight I'm meeting up with my girls.

Usage notes

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  • The plural Mädels is used chiefly in northern and central Germany, while Mädeln is used in southern Germany and Austria.
  • This word is often used by adult women to refer to their adult friends, e.g. Mädelsabend for a “girls’ night out”. This usage is found even in regions where Mädel is not otherwise used.

Declension

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northern and central Germany
Declension of Mädel [neuter, strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein das Mädel die Mädel, Mädels
genitive eines des Mädels der Mädel, Mädels
dative einem dem Mädel den Mädeln, Mädels
accusative ein das Mädel die Mädel, Mädels
southern Germany and Austria
Declension of Mädel [neuter, mixed]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein das Mädel die Mädeln
genitive eines des Mädels der Mädeln
dative einem dem Mädel den Mädeln
accusative ein das Mädel die Mädeln

Synonyms

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Hypernyms

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Derived terms

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Further reading

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  • “Mädel” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
  • “Mädel” in Duden online
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