daycare center
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daycare center
Short for Kindertagesstätte; a facility for full-day or part-day care of children, usually of preschool age. It often includes a nursery for very young children and a kindergarten.
Unsere Tochter geht seit einem Jahr in die Kita.
Our daughter has been going to daycare for a year.
'Kita' (daycare center) is an abbreviation of the word 'Kindertagesstätte' (daycare center). This long word is made up of 'Kinder' (children), 'Tag' (day), and 'Stätte' (an old-fashioned word for place or site).
Die offizielle Bezeichnung auf dem Formular ist „Kindertagesstätte“.
The official term on the form is 'Kindertagesstätte' (daycare center).
The word 'Kita' (daycare center) is the usual everyday form. The full form 'Kindertagesstätte' (daycare center) is mainly used in official documents, administrative contexts, or written language.
Im Gespräch mit Freunden sage ich immer „Kita“, nicht „Kindertagesstätte“.
When talking with friends, I always say 'Kita' (daycare), not 'Kindertagesstätte' (daycare center).
Pay attention to the difference between 'in die Kita' (to daycare, accusative), which describes movement, and 'in der Kita' (at daycare, dative), which describes a location.
Ich bringe meinen Sohn morgens in die Kita.
I take my son to daycare in the mornings.
Common verbs in connection with daycare are: to take a child 'in die Kita' (to daycare), to pick them up 'aus der Kita' (from daycare), or to get 'einen Kita-Platz' (a daycare spot).
Es ist in großen Städten oft schwer, einen Kita-Platz zu finden.
In big cities, it is often hard to find a daycare spot.
kindergarten
Der Kindergarten usually cares for children between the age of three and starting school. Die Kita is a broader term and can include not only a kindergarten but also a nursery for younger children. For a three-year-old, both words can therefore refer to the same facility.
Unsere einjährige Tochter besucht seit August die Kita.
Our one-year-old daughter has been attending daycare since August.
Unsere vierjährige Tochter besucht seit August den Kindergarten.
Our four-year-old daughter has been attending kindergarten since August.
