das Hähnchen
chicken
A young chicken eaten as poultry, or its meat.
EXAMPLE
Zum Mittagessen bestelle ich einen Salat mit Hähnchen.
For lunch, I'm ordering a salad with chicken.
das Hähnchen
chicken
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
das Hähnchen
chick
A young chicken that is not yet fully grown; a chick.
EXAMPLE
Die Glucke führte ihre kleinen Hähnchen über den Hof.
The hen led her little chicks across the yard.
Usage tips
Word structure
'Hähnchen' is a diminutive form. It comes from 'der Hahn' (the rooster) and the ending '-chen'. Words with '-chen' are always neuter in German, so it is 'das Hähnchen'.
EXAMPLE
Ein kleines Hähnchen lief über den Bauernhof.
A little chick ran across the farmyard.
Regional variants
There are well-known regional terms for 'Hähnchen' as a dish. In Austria and Bavaria, people often say 'das Hendl'; in Switzerland, 'das Poulet' is common.
EXAMPLE
Auf dem Oktoberfest habe ich ein halbes Hendl gegessen.
At Oktoberfest, I ate half a roast chicken.
Context clue
You can tell from context whether the animal or the food is meant. On menus, in recipes, or at the supermarket, 'Hähnchen' always refers to the meat.
EXAMPLE
Ich hätte gern die Nudeln mit Hähnchen und Gemüse.
I would like the pasta with chicken and vegetables.
Typical collocations
In the context of food, 'Hähnchen' is often referred to as 'Brathähnchen' (roast chicken) or 'Grillhähnchen' (grilled chicken). A very typical order at snack stands is 'ein halbes Hähnchen mit Pommes' (half a chicken with fries).
EXAMPLE
Am Wochenende machen wir Grillhähnchen für die ganze Familie.
At the weekend, we're making grilled chicken for the whole family.
Compare with
Hähnchen vs Huhn
chicken
Both Huhn and Hähnchen can refer to poultry meat as food. Huhn is the more general term for the meat, while Hähnchen usually refers to a young animal or a dish prepared from one. Use Huhn in general and Hähnchen for the typical specific meal.
Hähnchen
Zum Abendessen bestelle ich ein gebratenes Hähnchen mit Reis.
I’m ordering roast chicken with rice for dinner.
Huhn
Für die Suppe kaufe ich frisches Huhn beim Metzger.
I’m buying fresh chicken from the butcher for the soup.
In real life
Loading video examples...