der Spatz
sparrow
A small, widespread songbird, often living near people; the house sparrow.
EXAMPLE
Ein frecher Spatz landete auf unserem Tisch und pickte nach Krümeln.
A cheeky sparrow landed on our table and pecked at crumbs.
der Spatz
sparrow
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Meanings
der Spatz
sweetheart
An affectionate pet name for someone close to you, especially a child or partner.
EXAMPLE
„Gute Nacht, mein kleiner Spatz“, flüsterte die Mutter ihrem Kind zu.
'Good night, my little sweetheart,' the mother whispered to her child.
Usage tips
Context clue
The meaning 'Kosename' (pet name) is often recognizable from a possessive pronoun such as 'mein' (my) or 'unser' (our). The bird meaning usually appears without such a personal connection.
EXAMPLE
Komm her, mein Spatz, ich helfe dir mit den Schuhen.
Come here, my sweetheart, I'll help you with your shoes.
Register and style
As a pet name, 'Spatz' (sweetheart) is very informal and affectionate. It is used for partners or children to express affection.
EXAMPLE
Der Opa nennt seine Enkelin liebevoll „mein kleiner Spatz“.
The grandpa affectionately calls his granddaughter 'mein kleiner Spatz' (my little sweetheart).
Fixed expression
There is the well-known proverb 'Lieber den Spatz in der Hand als die Taube auf dem Dach' (better the sparrow in the hand than the dove on the roof). It means that you should rather be satisfied with something small but certain than want something bigger but uncertain.
EXAMPLE
Er nahm das sichere Angebot an, denn lieber den Spatz in der Hand als die Taube auf dem Dach.
He accepted the safe offer, because a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'Das pfeifen die Spatzen von den Dächern' (the sparrows are whistling it from the rooftops) means that something is an open secret that everyone already knows.
EXAMPLE
Dass die beiden heiraten werden, pfeifen doch schon die Spatzen von den Dächern.
That the two of them are going to get married is already an open secret.
Compare with
Spatz vs Schatz
darling / treasure
Schatz and Spatz are both affectionate pet names. Schatz is a generally suitable form of address for a partner or child, whereas Spatz is more figurative and sounds more diminutive. Spatz is therefore particularly suitable for a tender, playful form of address.
Spatz
Die Mutter ruft ihrer Tochter zärtlich zu: „Komm bitte her, mein kleiner Spatz.“
The mother calls out tenderly to her daughter, “Come here, please, my little sweetheart.”
Schatz
Die Mutter ruft ihrer Tochter zu: „Komm bitte her, Schatz.“
The mother calls out to her daughter, “Come here, please, darling.”
In real life
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