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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.
woman / wife
Frau neutrally refers to an adult female person and emphasizes that she is an adult. Mädel can also fit a young woman, but it sounds colloquial, familiar, or diminutive, and depending on the situation, it can also sound slightly condescending. For a matter-of-fact description, Frau is the more appropriate choice.
Das Mädel am Informationsschalter erklärt der jungen Besucherin den Weg.
The girl at the information desk explains the way to the young visitor.
Die Frau am Informationsschalter erklärt der jungen Besucherin den Weg.
The woman at the information desk explains the way to the young visitor.
