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Definition & meaning

Migrantenkind means “child of migrants” or “child with a migration background.” It usually refers to a child whose parents, or sometimes the child themselves, have migrated from another country. The term does not necessarily mean that the child was born abroad.

Depending on context, it can sound reductive because it highlights a person’s family background rather than simply referring to them as a child. It is not inherently insulting, but more neutral wording may be preferable in some situations.

Grammar & word origin

Migrantenkind is a compound of Migrant ↗ (“migrant”) and Kind ↗ (“child”). Its grammatical gender is neuter: das Migrantenkind. The plural is die Migrantenkinder.

Synonyms & antonyms

• Kind mit Migrationshintergrund ↗ — “child with a migration background.” This is often more neutral, though it can describe a broader group than Migrantenkind.
• Einwandererkind ↗ — “child of immigrants.” This specifically refers to a connection with immigration.

There is no exact antonym. Kind ohne Migrationshintergrund ↗ (“child without a migration background”) is a descriptive contrast, not a strict opposite.

Common phrases & collocations

• ein Migrantenkind sein ↗ — to be a child of migrants
• Migrantenkinder fördern ↗ — to support or promote the development of children from migrant families