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Yes. "Mädchen" is the diminutive of "Magd", and thus neuter, as are all words in the diminutive. This not only goes for the diminutive suffix -chen, but for all
by rowyourboat 9y ago
Yes. "Mädchen" is the diminutive of "Magd", and thus neuter, as are all words in the diminutive. This not only goes for the diminutive suffix -chen, but for all German diminutive suffixes.
- jasonmp85 9y agoFWIW I believe “die Fräulein” is accepted, despite the -lein suffix. Sure, it’s accepted in _addition_ to “das […]”, but IIRC you may sound a bit odd with the “das” in that specific case, no?
- ohlookabird 9y agoAs a native German speaker, "die Fräulein" sounds odd to me, while "das Fräulein" is perfectly fine.
- jasonmp85 9y agoI rescind my comment!
- rowyourboat 9y ago> you may sound a bit odd with the “das” in that specific case, no? No. As a native speaker, I would consider "die Fräulein" incorrect in the singular. "Die Fräulein" is the correct plural of "das Fräulein", however. Regardless, at least in Germany, "Fräulein" is considered archaic, bordering on offensive.