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Nesthaekchen

Learn a funny, quirky German word each week with DW's Word of the Week feature. This week: Nesthaekchen.

https://p.dw.com/p/RlwJ
Image: picture-alliance/dpa

If it's young, cute, and everyone dotes on it, then it's probably a "Nesthaekchen." The term is reserved for the youngest child - the baby of the family. Bringing together the words "Nest" and "Haekchen," it literally means something along the lines of "the little hook of the nest." After all, a hook attaches itself to things, and the youngest child is the one most firmly attached to the family nest. Often it's the last to leave home, and parents often have a hard time letting go. Unless, of course, a new sibling comes along and steals the "Nesthaekchen" status for itself.

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