01
das Hühnchen
chicken
The meat of a chicken prepared as food.
example
Am Sonntag gibt es bei uns oft gebratenes Hühnchen mit Pommes.
On Sundays, we often have roast chicken with fries.
das Hühnchen
chicken
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word formation: diminutive
'Hühnchen' (little chicken/chicken meat) is the diminutive form of 'das Huhn' (the chicken/hen). The ending '-chen' is often used in German not only for small things, but also for meat dishes.
EXAMPLE
Ein kleines Hühnchen lief über den Hof.
A little chicken ran across the yard.
Context clue: animal vs. food
Whether the animal or the dish is meant becomes clear from context. Verbs like 'essen' (to eat), 'kochen' (to cook), or 'braten' (to roast/fry) point to the meat. Words like 'Bauernhof' (farm) or verbs like 'laufen' (to run/walk) and 'piepen' (to peep) refer to the living animal.
EXAMPLE
Ich bestelle im Restaurant ein halbes Hühnchen.
I order half a chicken at the restaurant.
Typical dishes
When 'Hühnchen' (chicken) refers to food, it often appears together with the method of preparation or the side dishes. Typical examples are 'gebratenes Hühnchen' (roast/fried chicken), 'Hühnchen-Curry' (chicken curry), or 'Hühnchen mit Reis' (chicken with rice).
EXAMPLE
Mein Lieblingsessen ist Hühnchen mit Pommes und Salat.
My favorite meal is chicken with fries and salad.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'mit jemandem ein Hühnchen zu rupfen haben' (to have a bone to pick with someone) means that you are annoyed and need to have a clarifying conversation with that person. The person is in the dative after the preposition 'mit' (with).
EXAMPLE
Ich habe mit dir noch ein Hühnchen zu rupfen, weil du zu spät gekommen bist!
I still have a bone to pick with you because you arrived late!
Compare with
Hühnchen vs Huhn
chicken
'das Huhn' and 'das Hühnchen' can both mean an animal or meat for eating. 'Huhn' is the normal word for the animal in general and also for the meat. 'Hühnchen' is the diminutive form and, for the animal, is more suitable for a small or young chicken. For food, people very often say 'Hühnchen', especially when talking about a dish. Learners may confuse the words because both refer to the same animal. As a practical rule: in the coop, 'Huhn' is usually more neutral; on the plate, 'Hühnchen' often sounds more natural.
Hühnchen
Zum Abendessen macht Anna Hühnchen mit Reis und Gemüse.
For dinner, Anna is making chicken with rice and vegetables.
Huhn
Auf dem Bauernhof läuft ein Huhn frei über den Hof.
On the farm, a chicken is walking freely around the yard.
In real life
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