Re:Reasons some languages are harder to learn
by ben_w on Sunday May 16, 2021 @10:34AM
(#27173985)
This really confused me when I was starting to learn German — naturally I incorrectly inferred that “das” was feminine rather than neuter.
When I learned that “-chen” is a diminutive („Hund” = “dog”, „Hündchen” = “puppy”), I assumed there must be a “Mad*” as a non-diminutive alternative word for women. Turns out, there’s an archaic root in „Magd”, which also became the English “maid”.
When I learned that “-chen” is a diminutive („Hund” = “dog”, „Hündchen” = “puppy”), I assumed there must be a “Mad*” as a non-diminutive alternative word for women. Turns out, there’s an archaic root in „Magd”, which also became the English “maid”.