körnchen

Körnchen is the diminutive form of Korn, the German word for grain or seed. In everyday language it denotes a small grain or granule, often used to emphasize small size or to convey a sense of lightness or informality. The term is used across different contexts to refer to tiny, roughly rounded particles.

The form -chen indicates a smaller version of something, so Körnchen implies a smaller grain. In scientific and technical German it can refer to a variety of small particles, from cereal grains to mineral grains or synthetic granules, depending on the field of work.

Contexts in which the term appears vary by discipline. In nutrition and gastronomy, Körnchen describe small morsels or components within a mixture, such as tiny cereal pieces in a breakfast blend. In biology, Körnchen is used for small cellular granules, such as lipid droplets or secretory granules, which are subcellular bodies that store substances or participate in secretion. In materials science and powder technology, Körnchen denotes individual particles in a powder or granulated material, with properties that influence flow and compaction.

Size and properties of Körnchen are not fixed; they span a range from sub-micrometer granules in colloids to millimeter-scale particles in granular materials, with the exact composition depending on the context.

See also: Korn, Körner, Granule, Granulierung.