German word

Kleinstadt

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈklaɪ̯nˌʃtat/

Meaning

  • feminine nounsmall town

Example

In der Kleinstadt kennt jeder jeden.

Everyone in the small town knows everyone else.

Illustration for Kleinstadt (small town)

More examples

Viele Veranstaltungen in der Kleinstadt sind nur regional bekannt.

Many events in the small town are known only in the region.

Core concept

A compact town with urban services close at hand, but without the scale and variety of a major city.

Common phrases

  • sich in der Kleinstadt auskennen

    know one's way around a small town

  • in eine Kleinstadt ziehen

    move to a small town

Similar words

Stadt: An urban settlement with government offices, shops, and everyday services in one place.
Dorf: A rural settlement with few residents, homes, farmland, and strong local ties.
Großstadt: A densely populated major city with extensive shopping, business, and cultural facilities.
Vorort: A residential area on a city's outskirts, whose residents often commute to the center.

Definition in German

Eine Kleinstadt ist eine Stadt von relativ kleinem Ausmaß, die zwar städtische Einrichtungen bietet, aber kein umfangreiches Angebot wie eine Großstadt hat.

Word origin

Kleinstadt is a compound of klein, meaning 'small', and Stadt, a Germanic word related to Old High German stat for a place or settlement.

Usage tips

  • Kleinstadt is feminine, so the phrase 'in der Kleinstadt' uses the dative feminine article der, while its plural is Kleinstädte.

Opposites

Related words

  • Kleinstadtidyllesmall-town idyllnoun
  • Kleinstadtcharmesmall-town charmnoun

Word lists with this word