prodigy
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prodigy
A child who shows exceptional talent or ability in a particular area, such as music or mathematics, at a very young age.
Mozart galt schon als kleiner Junge als musikalisches Wunderkind.
Mozart was considered a musical prodigy even as a young boy.
The word is made up of 'Wunder' (miracle) and 'Kind' (child). So it literally describes a child who seems like a miracle because they are so exceptionally talented.
Mit nur zehn Jahren veröffentlichte sie ihren ersten Roman und gilt seitdem als Wunderkind.
At just ten years old, she published her first novel and has been considered a prodigy ever since.
'Wunderkind' (prodigy) is often used in the construction 'als Wunderkind gelten' (to be considered a prodigy) or together with the verb 'sein' (to be) to describe a person's special talent.
Er galt schon früh als Wunderkind am Klavier.
He was considered a piano prodigy from an early age.
The word is often combined with an adjective that indicates the area of talent. Common examples are 'musikalisches Wunderkind' (musical prodigy), 'Schach-Wunderkind' (chess prodigy), or 'mathematisches Wunderkind' (mathematical prodigy).
Die Presse feierte den jungen Geiger als neues musikalisches Wunderkind.
The press celebrated the young violinist as a new musical prodigy.
talent
'das Talent' and 'das Wunderkind' both have to do with special ability. 'Talent' can mean an ability or a person who is very good at something. Age does not play an important role. 'Wunderkind' always means a child who can already do an exceptional amount at a very early age, for example in music, mathematics, or sports. Learners may confuse the words because a prodigy naturally has talent. But a talent can also be an adult, and not every talent is as exceptional as a prodigy.
Mit sechs Jahren spielt Anna schon schwere Stücke und gilt als Wunderkind.
At six years old, Anna is already playing difficult pieces and is considered a prodigy.
Im Training fällt Emma durch ihr Talent für schnelle Bewegungen auf.
In training, Emma stands out because of her talent for quick movements.