Gender of Nouns Deutsch 2

Nouns All German nouns are capitalized. All German nouns have a grammatical gender. The noun is either masculine, feminine, or neuter. The definite article der (the) accompanies a masculine noun, die accompanies a feminine noun, and das a neuter noun.

Noun Groups

General rules Nouns that refer specifically to male beings, such as father, uncle, etc., are usually masculine. Nouns that refer to female beings, such as mother, daughter, etc., are usually feminine. Nouns referring to young people and young animals are usually neuter. All diminuatives ending in –chen and –lein are neuter. das Mädchen das Kind das Fräulein das Kalb das Kätzchen das Küken HOWEVER, nouns referring to things are NOT always neuter but can have a masculine or feminine gender. For this reason the gender of each noun should be memorized.

Masculine nouns - groups Names of ALL calendar days Names of ALL calendar months Names of ALL seasons Names of ALL cardinal directions der Süden der Norden der Westen der Osten

Feminine nouns - groups Names of MOST trees die Tanne die Eiche Names of MOST fruits die Banane die Pflaume EXCEPTION: der Apfel Names of MOST flowers die Orchidee die Lilie

Neuter noun - Groups NOTE: The neuter article for MOST cities Names of MOST cities das historische München das übervölkerte Hongkong Names of MOST countries das neutrale Schweden das moderne Deutschland NOTE: The neuter article for MOST cities and countries is used only if the noun is modified. Without a modifier, one simply uses München, Berlin, Italien, etc.

Exceptions NOTE: These exceptions are ALWAYS Feminine countries: die Schweiz die Türkei die Tschechische Republik Masculine countries: der Iran der Irak Countries that are ONLY used in the plural. die Niederlande die Vereinigten Staaten NOTE: These exceptions are ALWAYS used with their articles, whether they are modified or not. “Wir besuchen die Schweiz.”

Neuter noun - Groups Names of MOST metals and chemical elements das Gold das Kupfer das Helium EXCEPTION: der Stahl

Noun endings

Masculine Word endings Nouns ending in –el, -en, -er, -ig, -ich, and –ling are USUALLY masculine. der Schlüssel der Zucker der Löffel der Honig der Wagen der Pfennig der Boden der Teppich der Teller der Lehrling EXCEPTIONS: die Butter das Messer das Wetter die Gabel die Mutter das Zimmer das Leder die Tochter das Fenster das Kissen

feminine word endings Nouns ending in –age, -ei, -heit, -keit, -schaft, -ie, -ik, -in, -ion, -tät, -ung, -ur are ALMOST ALWAYS feminine. Nouns ending in –e are USUALLY feminine. die Courage die Musik die Liebe die Fabrik die Politik die Köchin die Krankheit die Nation die Schönheit die Universität die Freundlichkeit die Wohnung die Freundschaft die Rechnung die Melodie die Diktatur die Familie die Literatur

Neuter word endings Nouns ending in –tum, -ment, -ium, -um are USUALLY neuter. das Christentum das Instrument das Gymnasium das Museum das Datum Infinitives used as nouns are ALWAYS neuter. das Hören das Sehen

nouns with different meanings The following pairs of words have different meanings for masculine feminine and neuter forms. der Golf gulf das Golf golf der Junge boy das Junge young animal der Leiter leader, manager die Leiter ladder der See lake (inland) die See sea (ocean) der Tor fool das Tor gate, goal (in soccer)

compound nouns Compound nouns are formed by combining two or more nouns. The gender of the compound noun matches the gender of the last noun. der Motor, das Boot das Motorboot der Zahn, die Bürste die Zahnbürste das Wasser, die Farbe die Wasserfarbe die Tannen (pl), der Baum der Tannenbaum die Kranken (pl), der Wagen der Krankenwagen die Tage (pl), das Buch das Tagebuch

more compound nouns Some compound nouns are formed by two singular nouns connected by an –s. der Staat, das Examen das Staatsexmen der Sport, der Mann der Sportsmann der Geburtstag, der Kuchen der Geburtstagskuchen das Mitglied, die Karte die Mitgliedskarte der Liebling, die Melodie die Lieblingsmelodie die Universität, der Professor der Universitätsprofessor

Nouns used only in the singular die Liebe die Musik der Schmuck das Leder das Vieh der Wein die Milch das Fleisch die Butter der Honig das Gold

Plural Nouns No gender is given to plural nouns. ALL plural nouns have the same definite and indefinite articles. Unlike English plural nouns, in German, nouns rarely form their plural forms by adding –s. More about plural nouns later.

Resources Gschossmann-Hendershot, E.F. (). Schaum’s Outline of German Grammar : Second Edition.