Quäntchen
German
Alternative forms
- Quentchen (superseded)
Etymology
From the incorrect folk etymology which connected Quentchen with Quantum (“quantum”) and led to the spelling Quäntchen with ⟨ä⟩ instead of ⟨e⟩ in the 1996 spelling reform.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈkvɛntçən/
(file)
Noun
Quäntchen n (strong, genitive Quäntchens, plural Quäntchen)
- a small amount, scrap
- Es fehlte mir das nötige Quäntchen Glück.
- I lacked the necessary bit of luck.
- 2018 December 28, Ulrike Guérot, “Die Freiheit ist schnell verspielt”, in Die Zeit:
- Hans-Peter Martins Buch, um gleich damit anzufangen, bleibt die Hoffnung schuldig, irgendein Quäntchen Hoffnung, dass sich an dieser menschengemachten Entwicklung noch ändern ließe.
- (please add an English translation of this quote)
Usage notes
- The spelling Quäntchen has been the prescribed spelling since the German spelling reform of 1996 (the Rechtschreibreform). In the affected areas, the previous spelling (Quentchen) is now less common, and may be regarded as a misspelling.
Declension
Declension of Quäntchen [neuter, strong]
| singular | plural | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| indef. | def. | noun | def. | noun | |
| nominative | ein | das | Quäntchen | die | Quäntchen |
| genitive | eines | des | Quäntchens | der | Quäntchen |
| dative | einem | dem | Quäntchen | den | Quäntchen |
| accusative | ein | das | Quäntchen | die | Quäntchen |
Further reading
- “Quäntchen” in Duden online