Nijntje en haar vriendjes spelen samen buiten

What does “nijntje” mean in Dutch?

Nijntje is one of the Netherlands' most famous exports: the little rabbit created by Utrecht artist Dick Bruna in 1955, known internationally as Miffy. The name tells its own story — nijntje is a childlike shortening of “konijntje” (little rabbit), the first syllable dropped because Bruna’s young son couldn’t say the full word. So a child’s version of “rabbit” became the name of the rabbit. Outside the Netherlands she became Miffy; in Dutch she has always been nijntje.

In this sing-along clip you can hear her name in the opening: “Nijntje, kom erbij. Met jouw vriendjes reuzeblij.” — Nijntje, come along, hugely happy with your little friends. Notice “reuzeblij” in that line: “reuze” comes from “reus” (giant) and works as a Dutch intensifier meaning super or hugely — reuzeblij = super happy, reuzeleuk = really great. “Konijntje” itself is formed from “konijn” (rabbit) + “-tje,” the Dutch diminutive suffix that makes things small and usually warm: “kopje” (small cup — what you order for coffee), “vogeltje” (little bird), “meisje” (girl). Dick Bruna drew nijntje in bold simple lines and a small palette; a Nijntje Museum in Utrecht is dedicated to his work.