In German
Hähnchen
Meaning: chicken (meat)
Formal or informal? “Hähnchen” is chicken as food, often a roast chicken. The animal in general is “das Huhn”, and a rooster is “der Hahn”.
Example sentences
Heute essen wir Hähnchen mit Reis.
Today we're having chicken with rice.
Das Huhn legt jeden Tag ein Ei.
The hen lays an egg every day.
Das Hähnchen ist sehr lecker.
The chicken is very tasty.
Grammar note
“Das Hähnchen” is neuter, so it takes “das” and “ein”. The diminutive “-chen” makes every noun neuter, so “das Hähnchen” follows the same rule as “das Mädchen”.
Common mistake
Use “Hähnchen” for chicken meat, and “Huhn” for the live bird. Ordering “ein Huhn” in a restaurant sounds odd, since you get the meat, not the bird.
Quick check
Which German word means “chicken” as food?
More words on this topic
Keep learning German
Practise it in a lesson →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between “Huhn” and “Hähnchen”?
“Huhn” is the bird or hen, while “Hähnchen” is chicken meat or a roast chicken on the menu.
What is the German word for rooster?
“Der Hahn”, the male bird.