der Findling
foundling
An abandoned or deserted child who is found and taken in by others.
EXAMPLE
Der Findling wurde von einer Pflegefamilie aufgenommen.
The foundling was taken in by a foster family.
der Findling
foundling / erratic boulder
der Findling, die Findlinge
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Meanings
der Findling
erratic boulder
A large isolated stone that was transported to another place by glaciers during the Ice Age.
EXAMPLE
Am Waldrand liegt ein großer Findling aus der letzten Eiszeit.
A large erratic boulder from the last Ice Age lies at the edge of the forest.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Findling, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| plural | die Findlinge |
| genitive | des Findlings |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Findling | die Findlinge |
| accusative | den Findling | die Findlinge |
| dative | dem Findling | den Findlingen |
| genitive | des Findlings | der Findlinge |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Word formation
„Findling“ (foundling / erratic boulder) is related to the verb „finden“ (to find) and literally refers to something or someone that has been found. This basic idea applies both to the found child and to the found stone.
EXAMPLE
Der Findling wurde nach langer Suche entdeckt.
The foundling was discovered after a long search.
Language style
The meaning of „Findling“ (foundling) referring to an abandoned or deserted child sounds rather literary or historical today. In this sense, „Findling“ often appears in stories about earlier times or children's fates.
EXAMPLE
In dem Roman wächst der Findling bei einer Bauernfamilie auf.
In the novel, the foundling grows up with a farming family.
Glacial stone
In the meaning of “stone,” words such as „Eiszeit“ (Ice Age), „Gletscher“ (glacier), „Granit“ (granite), or „Waldrand“ (edge of the forest) point to the geological context. Common collocations include „ein großer Findling“ (a large erratic boulder), „ein eiszeitlicher Findling“ (an Ice Age erratic boulder), and „ein Findling aus Granit“ (a granite erratic boulder).
EXAMPLE
Neben dem Wanderweg steht ein eiszeitlicher Findling aus Granit.
An Ice Age erratic boulder made of granite stands beside the hiking trail.
In real life
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