Quäntchen

German

Alternative forms

Quentchen (superseded)

Etymology

From the incorrect folk etymology which connected Quentchen with Quantum (“quantum”) and led to the spelling Quäntchen with ⟨ä⟩ instead of ⟨e⟩ in the 1996 spelling reform.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈkvɛntçən/
Audio: (file)

Noun

Quäntchen n (strong, genitive Quäntchens, plural Quäntchen)

a small amount, scrap
Es fehlte mir das nötige Quäntchen Glück.
I lacked the necessary bit of luck.
- 2018 December 28, Ulrike Guérot, “Die Freiheit ist schnell verspielt”, in Die Zeit‎^[1]:
  Hans-Peter Martins Buch, um gleich damit anzufangen, bleibt die Hoffnung schuldig, irgendein Quäntchen Hoffnung, dass sich an dieser menschengemachten Entwicklung noch ändern ließe.
  (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Usage notes

The spelling Quäntchen has been the prescribed spelling since the German spelling reform of 1996 (the Rechtschreibreform). In the affected areas, the previous spelling (Quentchen) is now less common, and may be regarded as a misspelling.

Declension

Declension of Quäntchen [neuter, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	das	Quäntchen	die	Quäntchen
genitive	eines	des	Quäntchens	der	Quäntchen
dative	einem	dem	Quäntchen	den	Quäntchen
accusative	ein	das	Quäntchen	die	Quäntchen