01
das Darling
darling
A term of endearment borrowed from English for a beloved person; a sweetheart or dear.
example
Keine Sorge, mein Darling, wir schaffen das zusammen.
Don't worry, my darling, we'll manage this together.
das Darling
darling
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Origin and gender
'Darling' is a loanword from English. Although it refers to a person, the word is neuter in German: 'das Darling'. This is a grammatical peculiarity.
EXAMPLE
Sie nannte ihn liebevoll „mein Darling“.
She lovingly called him 'my darling'.
Context clue
You can recognize the meaning from the context. If it is used as a direct form of address for a beloved person, it is a term of endearment. If people are talking about a person's popularity in public, it means a 'Publikumsliebling' (crowd favorite).
EXAMPLE
Komm her, mein Darling, und gib mir einen Kuss.
Come here, my darling, and give me a kiss.
Typical collocations
In the meaning of 'Liebling' (favorite), the word is often combined with a genitive or a 'von' construction to show whose favorite the person is. Typical phrases are 'Darling der Presse' (darling of the press), 'Darling des Publikums' (darling of the audience), or 'Darling der Kritiker' (critics' darling).
EXAMPLE
Die junge Regisseurin gilt als das neue Darling des deutschen Films.
The young director is considered the new darling of German film.
Compare with
Darling vs Schatz
darling / treasure
'der Schatz' and 'das Darling' can both be used affectionately for a person. In German, 'Schatz' is a very normal term of endearment for a partner or a child. It can also generally mean a particularly dear or valuable person. 'Darling' comes from English and sounds more noticeable, more playful, or somewhat foreign-language in German. In addition, 'Darling' can also mean a person who is especially popular with a group or with the public. The words can be confused because both express affection. In everyday private life, 'Schatz' usually sounds more natural.
Darling
Nach dem Konzert war die junge Sängerin das Darling der Presse.
After the concert, the young singer was the darling of the press.
Schatz
Kommst du bitte kurz her, Schatz?
Could you come here for a moment, darling?
In real life
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