das Häuflein
Translation
small group, small band, handful
Examples
Ein Häuflein Aufrechter blieb zurück.
A small band of upright people remained.
Nur ein Häuflein Zuschauer war gekommen.
Only a handful of spectators had come.
Grammar Patterns
a handful of ((sb./sth.)) Only a handful of people attended the meeting.
a small group of ((sb./sth.)) A small group of children played in the park.
Similar Words
Gruppe (group), Schar (flock, band), Handvoll (handful)
Etymology
Diminutive of 'Haufen' (heap, pile, crowd) with the suffix '-lein', literally meaning 'little heap' or 'little crowd'.
Memory Tips
Think of a 'little heap' or 'little pile' of people. The '-lein' suffix always makes things smaller and often more endearing in German.