springende

Springende is the present participle of the German verb springen, meaning jumping or leaping. In German, springende can function as an adjective or as part of a participial phrase, describing someone or something that is in the act of jumping.

As an attributive adjective, springende is declined like other adjectives. Examples: ein springender Mann (a man who is jumping), eine springende Frau (a woman who is jumping), das springende Tier (the jumping animal). In the plural: springende Kinder, springende Hunde. With a definite article: der springende Mann, die springende Frau, das springende Tier. In predicative position, German typically uses the finite verb form rather than the participle: Der Mann springt. The participle is more common in descriptive or poetic contexts.

Springende is also used in participial clauses and phrases: Die Kinder, springend vor Freude, liefen davon (The children, jumping with joy, ran away). This usage is similar to how English uses present participles to add detail to a sentence.

Etymology and relation: springende derives from the German verb springen, related to Dutch springen and the English word spring, all from a common Germanic root. The form Partizip I (present participle) is a standard way to create descriptive phrases in German without changing the main clause’s tense.

In summary, springende is a versatile present participle/adjective in German that conveys ongoing jumping action and is common in both everyday and literary contexts.