01
das Weibchen
female
A female animal.
example
Das Weibchen des Amselpaares brütet die Eier allein aus.
The female of the blackbird pair incubates the eggs alone.
das Weibchen
female
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word structure and article
The word consists of 'Weib' (an old term for woman) and the diminutive form '-chen'. All nouns ending in '-chen' are neuter, so the article is always 'das'.
EXAMPLE
Das kleine Kätzchen ist ein Weibchen.
The little kitten is female.
Use for animals
In the context of animals, 'Weibchen' (female) is the neutral and correct term. It is used in both everyday language and biology without any negative meaning.
EXAMPLE
Bei vielen Vogelarten ist das Weibchen unauffälliger gefärbt.
In many bird species, the female is less strikingly colored.
Derogatory meaning
Using 'Weibchen' for a woman or girl is very outdated and is now perceived as condescending and insulting. This use should definitely be avoided.
EXAMPLE
Er nannte sie abfällig ein 'Weibchen', was alle im Raum schockierte.
He dismissively called her a 'Weibchen', which shocked everyone in the room.
Compare with
Weibchen vs Frau
woman / wife
'die Frau' and 'das Weibchen' both have to do with female sex, but they are used in very different contexts. 'die Frau' is used for an adult female person. 'das Weibchen' is normally used for animals. For people, 'Weibchen' is outdated and today sounds derogatory. Learners may confuse the words because both mean something female. As a practical rule: for people, say 'Frau'; for animals, 'Weibchen' can fit.
Weibchen
Im Zoo lag das Weibchen mit seinen Jungen im Schatten.
At the zoo, the female lay in the shade with her young.
Frau
Im Zug half eine Frau dem Kind mit dem schweren Koffer.
On the train, a woman helped the child with the heavy suitcase.
In real life
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