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' and 'die Kita' both refer to facilities where small children are cared for. 'Kindergarten' is especially used for children of preschool age, often roughly from three to six years old. 'Kita' is the short form of 'Kindertagesstätte' and can be broader: it can also include a nursery for very young children. In everyday language, many people say 'Kita' even when they actually mean kindergarten. That is why the words can easily be confused. If you are specifically talking about the group of three- to six-year-olds, 'Kindergarten' is more precise. If you are talking generally about daytime childcare, 'Kita' sounds very natural.
Nach der Arbeit hat Lena ihr Kind aus der Kita abgeholt.
After work, Lena picked up her child from daycare.
Im Kindergarten malt Paul heute ein Bild für seine Eltern.
In kindergarten today, Paul is painting a picture for his parents.