wunderkind

/ˈvundərkɪnt/

/ˈvundəkɪnt/

Other forms: wunderkinds; wunderkinder

A wunderkind is someone who achieves a huge amount of success at a young age. Publish a bestselling novel before you turn 14 and everyone will be calling you a wunderkind.

If you think this word looks a lot like "wonder kid," you're on the right track — the German Wunderkind means "wonder-child." It initially described musical prodigies like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who composed his first piece of music at the age of five. Today you can use it for any amazing young person, like your six-year-old cousin who does crazy skateboard tricks or the student in math class who rapidly solves equations that stump her teacher.

Definitions of wunderkind

1. noun

   a prodigy whose talents are recognized at an early age
   synonyms: child prodigy, infant prodigy, wonder child

   type of:

   child, fry, kid, minor, nestling, nipper, shaver, small fry, tiddler, tike, tyke, youngster

   a young person of either sex

   prodigy

   an unusually gifted or intelligent (young) person; someone whose talents excite wonder and admiration
2. noun

   a person of exceptional ability who is successful at an early age