lamb / little sheep
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lamb / little sheep
The diminutive form of Schaf (sheep). It refers to a young or small sheep, that is, a lamb.
Auf der Weide graste eine Herde mit vielen kleinen Schäfchen.
A flock with many little lambs was grazing in the pasture.
to feather one's nest
A fixed expression meaning that someone secures their own advantage, often at the expense of others or before a negative situation occurs.
Noch vor der Firmenpleite hat der Manager sein Schäfchen ins Trockene gebracht.
Even before the company went bankrupt, the manager had feathered his own nest.
little sheep clouds
A term for small, white, fluffy clouds (cirrocumulus or altocumulus) that look like a flock of sheep in the sky.
Am blauen Himmel zogen nur ein paar harmlose Schäfchen vorbei.
Only a few harmless little sheep clouds drifted across the blue sky.
flock member
In a religious or figurative sense, a member of a community (e.g. a parish) who is under the care of a leader (e.g. a pastor).
Der Pfarrer kennt jedes seiner Schäfchen mit Namen.
The pastor knows each of his flock by name.
'Schäfchen' (little sheep/lamb) is the diminutive form of 'das Schaf' (the sheep). The ending '-chen' makes the noun neuter and adds the meaning 'small' or 'cute'. This process is very common in German.
Das kleine Schäfchen hat sich von seiner Mutter entfernt.
The little lamb has wandered away from its mother.
The meaning is almost always clear from context. If the topic is animals or farms, it means a lamb. If people are talking about the sky and weather, it means clouds. In a religious context, it refers to members of a congregation.
Der Himmel ist blau mit nur wenigen weißen Schäfchen.
The sky is blue with only a few white little sheep clouds.
The idiom 'sein Schäfchen ins Trockene bringen' (to feather one's nest / secure one's own advantage) is a fixed unit. However, the possessive pronoun ('sein') must be adapted to the person who is securing the advantage.
Durch den schnellen Verkauf hat sie ihr Schäfchen ins Trockene gebracht.
By selling quickly, she feathered her own nest.
The term 'Schäfchen' (little sheep) for clouds is a figurative description. The small, white clouds look like a flock of sheep in the sky. These 'Schäfchenwolken' (little sheep clouds) often indicate stable, good weather.
Morgen soll es sonnig werden, am Himmel sind nur ein paar Schäfchen zu sehen.
Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny; only a few little sheep clouds can be seen in the sky.
lamb
Both words can refer to a young sheep. Lamm is the neutral term for the animal, while Schäfchen, with its diminutive form, also sounds small or affectionate. Lamm is usually appropriate in a factual description, while Schäfchen may be more suitable in an affectionate conversation.
Das kleine Schäfchen läuft auf der Weide neben seiner Mutter.
The little lamb walks across the pasture beside its mother.
Das Lamm läuft auf der Weide neben seiner Mutter.
The lamb walks across the pasture beside its mother.
