Goethe and Diminutive Forms

In this poem by J.W. von Goethe, there are very many nouns in diminutive form.

In this poem by Goethe, there are many diminutive nouns

For example: Blümchen (from Blume), Äuglein (from Auge).

Found

I walked in the forest
So for myself, on my way,
And nothing to seek,
That was my intention.
In the shadow I saw
A little flower stand,
Like stars shining,
Like little eyes beautiful.

I wanted to break it,
Then it said sweetly:
Shall I to wilting
Be broken?

I dug it with all
The little roots out.
To the garden I carried it
At the pretty house.

And planted it again
In the quiet place;
Now it branches forever
And blooms so forth.

Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von (1749-1832)

In the following exercise, the task is to form diminutive nouns:

In the following exercise, the task is to diminish the nouns.

And here is the correct solution:

1. House – Little house (Häuslein)
2. Star – Little star (Sternlein)
3. Rose – Little rose (Röslein)
4. Fir – Little fir (Tännlein)
5. Hedgehog – Little hedgehog (Igelein)
6. Bottle – Little bottle (Fläschlein)
7. Deer – Little deer (Rehchen)
8. Cloth – Little cloth
9. Country – Little country (Ländlein)
10. Drop – Little drop (Tröpflein)

Note: In the brackets are the less commonly used forms. For the word Cloth, only the lein-form is possible, because it is easier to pronounce.

In the brackets the forms are less commonly used. For the word Cloth, only the lein-form is possible.

Lehrerin_veselina