das Bällchen
little ball
A small, usually round object in the shape of a sphere or ball.
EXAMPLE
Der Hund jagte begeistert dem kleinen Bällchen hinterher.
The dog eagerly chased after the little ball.
das Bällchen
little ball
das Bällchen, die Bällchen
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Meanings
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Bällchen, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| plural | die Bällchen |
| genitive | des Bällchens |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Bällchen | die Bällchen |
| accusative | das Bällchen | die Bällchen |
| dative | dem Bällchen | den Bällchen |
| genitive | des Bällchens | der Bällchen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Diminutive form
'Bällchen' (little ball) consists of 'Ball' (ball) and the ending '-chen'. The ending indicates a small or often affectionately described form, which is why the word is frequently used in connection with children or pets.
EXAMPLE
Das Kätzchen rollte ein rotes Bällchen über den Boden.
The kitten rolled a red little ball across the floor.
Typical collocations
Common phrases include 'ein Bällchen werfen' (to throw a little ball), 'ein Bällchen fangen' (to catch a little ball), 'einem Hund ein Bällchen zuwerfen' (to toss a little ball to a dog), and 'mit einem Bällchen spielen' (to play with a little ball).
EXAMPLE
Die Kinder warfen dem Hund abwechselnd ein Bällchen zu.
The children took turns tossing a little ball to the dog.
Dative construction
In 'jemandem ein Bällchen zuwerfen' (to toss someone a little ball), the person or animal is in the dative, while 'ein Bällchen' is the accusative object. This construction describes who receives the little ball.
EXAMPLE
Mira warf ihrem Bruder ein Bällchen zu.
Mira tossed her brother a little ball.
In real life
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