small change
Loading your saved state.
small change
Coins of low value, as opposed to banknotes. It is often used for small payments at machines or for tips.
Haben Sie vielleicht etwas Kleingeld für den Parkautomaten?
Do you perhaps have some small change for the parking meter?
The word is made up of 'klein' (small) and 'Geld' (money). So it literally means 'kleines Geld' (small money), which can refer both to the low value of coins and to an insignificant sum of money.
Ich krame in meiner Tasche nach etwas Kleingeld für den Kaffeeautomaten.
I'm rummaging in my bag for some small change for the coffee machine.
'Kleingeld' (small change) is an uncountable noun and is usually used in the singular without an article or with 'etwas' (some). You ask 'Hast du Kleingeld?' (Do you have small change?) and not 'Hast du ein Kleingeld?'.
Entschuldigung, ich habe leider kein Kleingeld dabei.
Sorry, unfortunately I don't have any small change with me.
You can recognize the figurative meaning when very large sums are involved that are presented as small for a rich person or a large company. Words like 'nur' (only/just) or 'bloß' (only/merely) often signal this meaning.
Die Renovierungskosten von 50.000 Euro sind für den Milliardär doch nur Kleingeld.
The renovation costs of 50,000 euros are just small change for the billionaire.
In everyday life, 'Kleingeld' (small change) is often used in certain situations: you can 'mit Kleingeld bezahlen' (pay with small change), 'nach Kleingeld suchen' (look for small change), or 'Kleingeld wechseln' (change small change).
An der Kasse fragte die Frau vor mir, ob sie mit Kleingeld bezahlen dürfe.
At the checkout, the woman in front of me asked whether she could pay with small change.
cash
'das Bargeld' and 'das Kleingeld' both refer to money that is not paid electronically. 'Bargeld' is the general term for coins and banknotes. 'Kleingeld' especially means low-value coins, for example for machines, tips, or small amounts. The words can be confused because small change is also cash. But not all cash is small change: a banknote is cash, but normally not 'Kleingeld'.
Am Bahnhof sucht er Kleingeld für den Automaten.
At the train station, he looks for small change for the machine.
Meine Kollegin nimmt Bargeld mit, weil das Restaurant keine Karten akzeptiert.
My colleague takes cash with her because the restaurant does not accept cards.