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We build a diminutive by adding the suffix -lein or -chen. For some nouns one is preferred over the other whereas with other nouns both may be used.

Examples:

der Tisch | das Tischlein | das Tischchen
das Brot  |       -         das Brötchen
der Bach  | das Bächlein  |     -

In Hochdeutsch there is a tendency to prefer -chen whereas regionally the suffix corresponding the -lein-form (e.g. -li Swiss, -le Swabian) is used.

Apart from that, are there any rules that define which suffix to use?

Takkat
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    Isn't the form with "-le" the normal, non-diminutive form in Swabian? ;) – I'm with Monica Oct 02 '12 at 14:10
  • Oh no, "-le" still is a diminutive in Swabia - but be careful with "Brötle" - that's a cookie and not a "Weckle" (the latter being "Brötchen") ;) – Takkat Oct 02 '12 at 14:14

2 Answers2

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In my experience, for Hochdeutsch, "-lein" nowadays is often the exception that you would fall back to in case the more common "-chen" doesn't work, cf. "Bächlein" (because "Bächchen" would be impossible to pronounce even for native speakers).

An a/o/u vowel often changes to their corresponding umlaut:

Bach -> Bächlein

Brot -> Brötchen

Punkt -> Pünktchen

Additionally, if the last letter is a vowel, it is often omitted when forming a diminutive:

Schraube -> Schräubchen

Katze -> Kätzchen

There's also a separate diminutive "-i/-y" form mainly used with person names:

Hans -> Hansi

Fred -> Fredi

Thomas -> Tommy

Some examples of both Hochdeutsch and dialects can be found on Wikipedia

Jan
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    And finally there are the Bavarian diminutives that are made with -erl, but do not change the stem's vowel: Bacherl, Punkterl, Katzerl, Dutterl, Manschgerl, … – Jan Apr 01 '15 at 21:04
  • Not just when last letter is a vowel. Gärtchen not Gärtenchen. – Adam Bittlingmayer Nov 16 '15 at 07:14
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As you mentioned, in Switzerland we use only "li". If the last vovel is "a" "o" or "u" it gets to the corresponding umlaut "ä" "ö" or "ü"

  • Hund: Hündli
  • Brot: Brötli
  • Elefant: Elefäntli

But there are also exceptions like

  • Sou : Söili
  • Bogä: Bögeli/Bögli
inetphantom
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