Mädchen German · revision 35152

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=15th century, Middle Low German|origins=gem-pro *magaþs}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈmɛːtçən/, /ˈmeːtçən/^(Wiktionary)

+ * Austria, Southern-Germany: /ˈmeːtçɛn/^(Wiktionary)

+ * Switzerland: /ˈmɛːtçɛn/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''Mädchen''' ''n'' (genitive Mädchens, plural Mädchen or (nonstandard, uncommon) Mädchens)^(Wiktionary)

+ The expected form ''Mägdchen'' was still used by Lessing.^(Kluge 2011|591)^(Paul 2002) In the north the plural ''Mädchens'' is also found.^(Paul 2002)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|de|Magd|-chen]], a diminutive of the noun in its old sense “girl, maiden”.^(Kluge 2011|591)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|525) The first record is [[gml|mēgedeken]] in the 15th century, followed by East Central German forms with a simplified consonant group in the early 16th century, and by the spelling ⟨Mägdchen⟩ in the 17th, from which the modern form arose.^(Pfeifer 1993) Kluge dates the simplification to the middle of the 17th century in Thuringia and Saxony;^(Kluge 2011|591) [[nds|Mäken]] shows another reduction.^(Kluge 2011|591) Wiktionary also cites [[gmh|magedichīn]] and reconstructs [[gmw-pro|*magaþukīn]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ [[Magd]] itself is [[gmh|maget]], [[goh|magad]], from [[gem-pro|*magaþs|t=girl, maiden]], the same word as [[got|𐌼𐌰𐌲𐌰𐌸𐍃|tr=magaþs]] and [[ang|mæġþ]].^(Kluge 2011|591)^(Duden 7 2020|525) Duden connects it with the lost Germanic word for “boy” seen in [[m|got|𐌼𐌰𐌲𐌿𐍃|tr=magus]], while Kluge compares Celtic words and a root meaning “to nourish, suckle”; its further origin is uncertain.^(Duden 7 2020|525)^(Kluge 2011|591)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Middle Low German ''mēgedeken'' “little girl” is recorded in the 15th century.^(Pfeifer 1993) A Cologne glossary of 1507 renders Latin ''virguncula'' “little girl” by ''mechdeken''.^(DWB|12, 1417)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word spread into the written language from Low and Central German, where it belonged to everyday speech.^(DWB|12, 1417) Luther used ''megdichen'' in his Table Talk but always ''Mägdlein'' in the Bible.^(DWB|12, 1417) Paul notes that it first meant a female child; from the 18th century it also meant a grown, unmarried young woman, and a sweetheart, as in Lessing's ''wenn ich mein Mädchen küsse'' (“when I kiss my girl”).^(Paul 2002) In Lessing's ''Minna von Barnhelm'' Franciska is Minna's ''Mädchen'', her maid, and compounds such as ''Stubenmädchen'' and ''Küchenmädchen'' name household servants.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ''Mädchen für alles'', a maid who did all the housework, is recorded from 1832 (Holtei); Pfeifer sees it as a translation of English ''maid of all work''.^(Paul 2002)^(Pfeifer 1993) Duden notes that the word is no longer felt to be a diminutive.^(Duden 7 2020|525) The southern counterpart is [[Mädel]], formed with the suffix ''-el''.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 15th century – Middle Low German ''mēgedeken'' is first recorded.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Kluge 2011|591)

+ * 1507 – A Cologne glossary has ''mechdeken'' for Latin ''virguncula''.^(DWB|12, 1417)

+ * Early 16th century – East Central German ''Medichen''.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * Mid-17th century – ''Mägdchen'' is simplified to ''Mädchen'' in Thuringia and Saxony.^(Kluge 2011|591)^(Paul 2002)

+ * 18th century – The sense “young unmarried woman” becomes common.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 1832 – ''Mädchen für alles'' is recorded.^(Paul 2002)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|girl]], a female child: ''sie hat ein Mädchen bekommen'' “she has had a baby girl”.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A young, unmarried woman; a [[m|en|maiden]].^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(dated)'' A [[m|en|girlfriend]].^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # ''(dated)'' A housemaid, a female domestic [[m|en|servant]].^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Dienstmädchen]]

+ * [[Kindermädchen]]

+ * [[Zimmermädchen]]

+ * [[Milchmädchen]]

+ * [[Freudenmädchen]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Magd]]

+ * [[Mädel]]

+ * [[Maid]]

+ * [[en|maiden]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Mädchen'' is neuter, as a diminutive, but a later pronoun often follows the natural sex: ''das Mädchen … sie''.^(Paul 2002) ''Mädchen für alles'' is now a colloquial, humorous name for someone, man or woman, who does every kind of job.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Pfeifer 1993) ''Für kleine Mädchen müssen'' is a joking euphemism for needing the toilet.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}