German word

Sprössling

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʃprœslɪŋ/

Meaning

  • masculine noundescendant

Example

Die Sprösslinge der Familie wohnen in der Stadt.

The family's descendants live in the city.

Illustration for Sprössling (descendant)

More examples

Die leiblichen Sprösslinge erhielten das Erbe.

The biological descendants received the inheritance.

Core concept

New growth emerging from an established plant represents a younger family member continuing the family line.

Common phrases

  • leibliche Sprösslinge

    biological descendants

  • adoptierte Sprösslinge

    adopted descendants

Similar words

Spross: A young descendant referred to in a warm, familiar way.
Kind: A parent's direct child, as used in ordinary everyday speech.
Nachkomme: A descendant connected to an ancestor through a family line.

Definition in German

Junger Trieb einer Pflanze; übertragen: ein jüngeres Familienmitglied oder ein Nachfolger innerhalb einer Familie.

Word origin

The noun developed from Spross, "shoot," by adding -ling, whose nouns can denote a person connected with the underlying word.

Usage tips

  • Sprössling is less neutral than Nachkomme and can carry an affectionate or lightly playful tone.

Other meanings

  • shootnoun

Opposites

  • Vorfahreancestornoun
  • Ahneancestornoun

Word lists with this word