die Kindheit
childhood
The stage of a person's life in which they are a child, typically from birth until the beginning of puberty.
EXAMPLE
Ich hatte eine sehr glückliche Kindheit auf dem Land.
I had a very happy childhood in the countryside.
die Kindheit
childhood
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word structure
The word 'Kindheit' (childhood) consists of 'das Kind' (the child) and the suffix '-heit'. In German, the suffix '-heit' is often used to form abstract feminine nouns from nouns or adjectives.
EXAMPLE
Freiheit, Gesundheit und Krankheit sind weitere Beispiele mit dieser Endung.
Freiheit (freedom), Gesundheit (health), and Krankheit (illness) are further examples with this suffix.
Typical prepositions
To talk about this stage of life, you usually use the prepositions 'in' or 'seit'. 'In der Kindheit' (in childhood) describes events during this time, while 'seit der Kindheit' (since childhood) creates a connection to the present.
EXAMPLE
In meiner Kindheit habe ich viel Zeit bei meinen Großeltern verbracht.
In my childhood, I spent a lot of time with my grandparents.
Typical collocations
Common verbs used with 'Kindheit' (childhood) are 'haben' (to have), 'verbringen' (to spend), and 'sich erinnern' (to remember). Childhood is often described more specifically with an adjective.
EXAMPLE
Er hatte eine unbeschwerte Kindheit.
He had a carefree childhood.
Compare with
Kindheit vs Kindesalter
childhood
Kindheit and Kindesalter both refer to the stage of life up to the beginning of puberty. Kindheit usually sounds more personal and emphasizes the time as it was experienced, while Kindesalter is more formal and presents it more clearly as a defined age range. „Kindheit“ often fits when talking about memories, while „Kindesalter“ is more common in factual texts.
Kindheit
Sie erinnert sich gern an ihre Kindheit mit ihren Geschwistern.
She fondly remembers her childhood with her siblings.
Kindesalter
Im Kindesalter lernen viele Menschen besonders schnell neue Sprachen.
Many people learn new languages especially quickly during childhood.
In real life
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