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kindergarten

a class or school for young children, typically ages four to six

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Where does the word "kindergarten" come from? It comes from German Kindergarten, and was adopted directly into English (1850s-1860s).

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Where does the word "kindergarten" come from? It comes from German Kindergarten, and was adopted directly into English (1850s-1860s).

Kindergarten’s story begins in German: Kindergarten meant “children's garden.” Coined by educator Friedrich Fröbel, literally "children's garden". It reached English by 1850s-1860s as kindergarten. The first English-language kindergarten opened in Wisconsin. Today, kindergarten means a class or school for young children, typically ages four to six.

  1. Stage 1 · German · 1840 Kindergarten "children's garden", coined by educator Friedrich Fröbel, literally "children's garden".
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1850s-1860s kindergarten "a preschool class for young children", the first English-language kindergarten opened in Wisconsin.

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