das Schulmädchen
schoolgirl
A female child or teenager who attends school.
EXAMPLE
Eine Gruppe von Schulmädchen wartete lachend auf den Bus.
A group of schoolgirls waited for the bus, laughing.
das Schulmädchen
schoolgirl
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word composition
The word is made up of 'die Schule' (school) and 'das Mädchen' (girl). So it literally describes a girl who goes to school.
EXAMPLE
Das Schulmädchen trug einen schweren Rucksack auf dem Rücken.
The schoolgirl carried a heavy backpack on her back.
Grammatical gender
Although it refers to a female person, the article is 'das' (neuter). This is because with compound nouns, the gender of the final word ('das Mädchen' — the girl) is always decisive.
EXAMPLE
Das Schulmädchen mit den roten Haaren las ein Buch.
The schoolgirl with the red hair was reading a book.
Register and usage
The term is mostly used for girls of elementary or middle-school age. It can sometimes sound slightly old-fashioned or diminutive, but it is basically neutral.
EXAMPLE
Die Geschichte handelt von einem neugierigen Schulmädchen in einer kleinen Stadt.
The story is about a curious schoolgirl in a small town.
Compare with
Schulmädchen vs Schülerin
schoolgirl / female student
Schülerin and Schulmädchen both refer to a girl or adolescent girl who attends school. Schülerin is the usual age-neutral term; Schulmädchen explicitly emphasizes that she is a girl and often sounds rather old-fashioned in many situations. Schülerin is therefore usually the more suitable neutral term.
Schulmädchen
Auf dem alten Foto steht ein Schulmädchen mit einer Schultasche vor dem Eingang.
In the old photo, a schoolgirl is standing with a schoolbag in front of the entrance.
Schülerin
Die Schülerin aus der zehnten Klasse fährt jeden Morgen mit dem Bus zur Schule.
The student from the tenth grade takes the bus to school every morning.
In real life
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