German Words Ending in “-n“306

The German language has a rich vocabulary with a wide range of suffixes used to form new words. One common suffix is "-n", which can be added to nouns, verbs, and adjectives to create new words with various meanings.

Nouns Ending in "-n"

When added to nouns, the suffix "-n" typically indicates a person or thing associated with the base noun. For example:
Arzt (doctor) -> Ärztin (female doctor)
Bauer (farmer) -> Bäuerin (female farmer)
Student (student) -> Studentin (female student)
Haus (house) -> Häuschen (small house)
Baum (tree) -> Bäumchen (small tree)

Verbs Ending in "-n"

The suffix "-n" can also be added to verbs to form infinitive forms, which are used in various grammatical constructions.
essen (to eat) -> essen (to eat - infinitive form)
trinken (to drink) -> trinken (to drink - infinitive form)
schreiben (to write) -> schreiben (to write - infinitive form)
sprechen (to speak) -> sprechen (to speak - infinitive form)
lernen (to learn) -> lernen (to learn - infinitive form)

Adjectives Ending in "-n"

When added to adjectives, the suffix "-n" typically indicates a state or condition. For example:
alt (old) -> alten (becoming old)
jung (young) -> jungen (becoming young)
schön (beautiful) -> schönen (becoming beautiful)
hässlich (ugly) -> hässlichen (becoming ugly)
glücklich (happy) -> glücklichen (becoming happy)

Other Uses of "-n"

In addition to its use in forming nouns, verbs, and adjectives, the suffix "-n" also appears in other grammatical constructions, such as:
Possessive pronouns: mein (my), dein (your), sein (his), ihr (her)
Pronouns with prepositions: an uns (to us), auf ihn (on him), bei ihr (at her)
Adverbial endings: gestern (yesterday), morgen (tomorrow), hinten (behind)
Diminutives: Häuschen (small house), Männlein (little man), Fräulein (young woman)
Plural forms: Eltern (parents), Kinder (children), Geschwister (siblings)

Conclusion

The suffix "-n" is a versatile tool in the German language, used to create various types of words and grammatical constructions. Understanding its usage and meaning is essential for effective communication in German.

2024-11-28

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