small change
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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?
small change
In a figurative sense, a sum of money that is so small for a particular person or organization that it seems insignificant.
Für den Konzern war die Strafe von einer Million Euro nur Kleingeld.
For the corporation, the fine of one million euros was just small change.
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.
change
Kleingeld generally means low-value coins, for example for making a small payment. Wechselgeld, by contrast, is specifically the amount you get back after paying too much; it can include small bills as well as coins.
An der Kasse bezahlt Nora den kleinen Betrag mit Kleingeld.
At the checkout, Nora pays the small amount with coins.
An der Kasse bezahlt Nora mit einem großen Schein und prüft danach das Wechselgeld.
At the checkout, Nora pays with a large bill and then checks her change.
