girl
Loading your saved state.
girl
A colloquial term for a girl or young woman, often perceived as affectionate or diminutive. The term is more common in some regions than in others and can be perceived as slightly old-fashioned depending on the context.
Schau mal, die beiden Mädels da drüben haben genau die gleichen Jacken an.
Look, those two girls over there are wearing exactly the same jackets.
'Mädel' (girl) is a diminutive form. As with other diminutives (e.g., 'das Mädchen' (the girl)), the article is neuter ('das'), even though it refers to a female person.
Das Mädel mit den roten Haaren hat das Rennen gewonnen.
The girl with the red hair won the race.
The word is colloquial and old-fashioned in some contexts. It is more common in southern Germany and Austria than in northern Germany.
In Bayern hört man oft den Ausdruck „Servus, die Mädels!“.
In Bavaria, you often hear the expression 'Servus, die Mädels!' (Hi, girls!).
How this word is perceived depends strongly on the situation. It can sound affectionate, but it can also be perceived as condescending or inappropriate, especially when used by a man toward a woman he does not know.
Als der Chef die Mitarbeiterinnen „meine Mädels“ nannte, fanden das einige unprofessionell.
When the boss called the female employees 'meine Mädels' (my girls), some found it unprofessional.
girl
'das Mädchen' and 'das Mädel' both refer to a young female person. The difference is mainly one of style. 'Mädchen' is neutral and fits in almost all situations. 'Mädel' is colloquial and often sounds affectionate, casual, or somewhat diminutive. In some regions you hear it more often; in others it may sound old-fashioned. Learners may confuse the words because they look very similar and often refer to the same person. In neutral or more formal situations, 'Mädchen' is safer; among acquaintances, 'Mädel' can sound natural.
Meine Oma sagt oft: „Das Mädel hilft mir immer im Garten.“
My grandma often says, “That girl always helps me in the garden.”
Im Bus bietet ein Mädchen einer älteren Frau seinen Platz an.
On the bus, a girl offers her seat to an older woman.