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noun

die Krippe, -n

nursery

Definition & meaning

The word Krippe has two primary meanings in German:

  1. Manger / Crib (animal context): A trough or feeding box used in a stable or barn for cattle, horses, or other livestock to eat from.
  2. Daycare / Nursery (childcare context): A facility for the care of very young children (usually infants and toddlers under the age of three) before they attend kindergarten. This is often referred to as a Kinderkrippe.

In a cultural or religious context, it also refers to the Nativity scene or crèche, which depicts the birth of Jesus, centered around the manger in which he was laid.

Grammar & Word origin

  • Grammar: It is a feminine noun (die Krippe). Its plural form is die Krippen.
  • Word origin: The word stems from the Old High German kripja. It is related to the English word "crib," which historically shared the same meaning of a feeding trough before it came to denote a child's bed.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

  • For the childcare meaning: Kinderkrippe , Kindertagesstätte (general term for daycare), Betreuungseinrichtung .
  • For the Nativity scene: Weihnachtskrippe .
  • For the feeding trough: Futtertrog , Trog .

Antonyms:

  • There are no direct antonyms for this noun, as it describes a specific object or institution. However, in the context of age groups, one might contrast the Krippe with the Kindergarten (for older children) or Schule .

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Examples

Die Kinder spielen in der Krippe.noun

The children are playing in the nursery.

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