Junge

See also: junge

German

Alternative forms

• Jung (colloquial, regional)

Etymology

Nominalisation of jung (“young”). Already occasionally in (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Middle High German, later fully nominalised with the invariable nominative ein Junge (instead of ein Junger). The recognition as the normal standard term for “boy” is based on Central and Low German usage and has only fully asserted itself during the 20th century (compare Knabe). The now quite common plural form Jungs (Jungens) is also from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] German Low German. Cognate with English young (n.).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈjʊŋə/

• audio:

  (file)

Noun

Junge m (genitive Jungen, plural Jungen or Jungs or Jungens, diminutive Jünglein n or Jüngelchen n or Jüngchen n)

1. boy
2. (card games) jack

Usage notes

• The normal plural in writing is Jungen, although the colloquial Jungs is also sometimes seen.
• The third plural Jungens is not all too frequent and chiefly restricted to northern and (parts of) central Germany.
• Even with the irregular plurals (Jungs, Jungens) the singular declension is always weak (thus with -n in the oblique cases of the singular).

Synonyms

• Bub, Bube m (southern Germany, Switzerland and Austria)
• Bursche m
• Knabe m

Antonyms

• (by gender) Mädchen n, Mädel n
• (by age) Mann m

Hyponyms

• Judenjunge
• Negerjunge

Noun

Junge

1. inflection of Junges:
   1. strong nominative/accusative plural
   2. weak nominative/accusative singular

Related terms

• jung
• Jüngling

Further reading

• “Junge” in Duden online

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German Low German

Alternative forms

• Jung
• junge (uncommon)

Noun

Junge m

1. boy

Inflection

This noun needs an inflection-table template.