Ein bisschen
Example: Ich möchte ein bisschen Wasser, bitte.
Definition
"Ein bisschen" is a German expression used to indicate a small quantity or a little amount of something. It often precedes nouns or verbs and conveys the idea of 'a bit' or 'a little,' as in the example phrase, "Ich möchte ein bisschen Wasser, bitte," meaning 'I would like a little water, please.'
Etymology
The phrase "ein bisschen" comes from the German word "ein," meaning 'a' or 'one,' and "bisschen," which is a diminutive form of "Biss," originally meaning 'bite.' Over time, "bisschen" evolved to mean a small amount, much like taking a small bite. Did you know? The term retains a cozy, informal tone, making it very common in everyday German speech.
Learn to use this expression actively
"Ein bisschen" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
Would you like to not only understand these expressions, but also remember them and use them actively? Create a free account and select German as the language you want to learn.
Create a free account
