panties / little shorts
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panties
A small, close-fitting item of clothing worn as underwear for the lower body, mostly by women and children.
Das kleine Mädchen hat sich schon allein ein Höschen angezogen.
The little girl has already put on panties by herself.
little shorts
Short pants for toddlers.
Im Sommer rannte der Zweijährige nur mit einem Höschen im Garten herum.
In the summer, the two-year-old ran around the garden wearing only little shorts.
'Höschen' is the diminutive form of 'die Hose' (pants/trousers). The ending '-chen' makes the word neuter ('das Höschen') and means 'little pants.' This explains why it is used for underwear or children's shorts.
Das Kind trägt ein gestreiftes Höschen.
The child is wearing striped little shorts.
The ending '-chen' gives the word a familiar and often cute or affectionate tone. It is used mainly for children's clothing or for women's underwear.
Sie kaufte für ihre Tochter ein paar neue Höschen.
She bought a few new pairs of panties for her daughter.
The word is used almost exclusively for women and toddlers. Other terms are used for men's underwear or shorts for adults.
Im Wäscheschrank liegen die sauberen Höschen.
The clean panties are in the linen cupboard.
pants / trousers
Hose is the general term for this item of clothing and can also refer to a child's pair of shorts. Höschen here specifically refers to a small, short pair of pants for a toddler. Hose is appropriate as the neutral term, while Höschen is used for the small, childlike form.
Das Kleinkind trägt heute ein kurzes Höschen.
The toddler is wearing a little pair of shorts today.
Das Kind trägt heute eine kurze Hose.
The child is wearing a pair of shorts today.
