die Tochter
daughter
A female child in relation to her parents.
EXAMPLE
Unsere Tochter studiert Medizin in Berlin.
Our daughter is studying medicine in Berlin.
die Tochter
daughter
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Meanings
die Tochter
subsidiary
A company that is controlled by another, larger company (the parent corporation). Short form of Tochtergesellschaft.
EXAMPLE
Die Firma ist eine Tochter eines internationalen Technologiekonzerns.
The company is a subsidiary of an international technology corporation.
Usage tips
Context clue
Context reveals whether a person or a company is meant. If it is about a family, it means a female child. In a business context, it means a dependent company.
EXAMPLE
Die Tochter von Herrn und Frau Meier ist Ärztin.
The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Meier is a doctor.
Family metaphor
The business meaning is a metaphor. The controlling company is called 'Muttergesellschaft' (parent company) or 'Mutterkonzern' (parent corporation), and the dependent company is the 'Tochter' (subsidiary).
EXAMPLE
Die Muttergesellschaft hat ihren Sitz in Frankreich, die Tochter ist in Deutschland.
The parent company is based in France; the subsidiary is in Germany.
Register
The use of 'Tochter' (subsidiary) for a company is typical of business and financial language. This meaning is very common in newspaper articles about companies or in business reports.
EXAMPLE
Der Konzern plant, seine umsatzstärkste Tochter an die Börse zu bringen.
The corporation plans to take its highest-revenue subsidiary public.
Compare with
Tochter vs Töchterchen
little daughter
Tochter is the neutral term for a female child in relation to her parents. Töchterchen refers affectionately or diminutively to a small or young daughter. Tochter is appropriate for a factual statement; someone who deliberately wants to express affection can say Töchterchen.
Tochter
Unsere Tochter kommt morgen in die Schule, sagt der Vater beim Elternabend.
“Our daughter starts school tomorrow,” the father says at the parents’ evening.
Töchterchen
Mein Töchterchen kommt morgen in die Schule, sagt der Vater liebevoll.
“My little daughter starts school tomorrow,” the father says affectionately.
In real life
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