German Nouns: Gender and Word Endings110

German nouns are classified into three grammatical genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. The gender of a noun determines the form of its articles, adjectives, and possessive pronouns that modify it. Additionally, the gender of a noun often influences the endings of adjectives and the articles that precede them.

Determining the Gender of German Nouns

There are several ways to determine the gender of a German noun:
By Word Ending: Many German nouns have gender-specific endings. For example, masculine nouns often end in -er, -el, or -en, while feminine nouns frequently end in -e, -ei, or -heit.
By Article: The definite article (der, die, das) that precedes a noun indicates its gender. "Der" is used for masculine nouns, "die" for feminine nouns, and "das" for neuter nouns.
By Meaning: Some nouns have inherently masculine or feminine meanings. For instance, "der Mann" (man) is masculine, and "die Frau" (woman) is feminine.

Gender and Word Endings

The gender of a noun can influence the endings of adjectives and articles that modify it. Adjectives that modify masculine nouns typically end in -er, while those that modify feminine nouns end in -e.

For example:
Der große Mann (the big man)
Die große Frau (the big woman)

Additionally, the definite articles that precede nouns change their forms based on the gender of the noun.
Masculine: der (singular), die (plural)
Feminine: die (singular and plural)
Neuter: das (singular), die (plural)

List of German Nouns and Their Genders

Here is a list of common German nouns and their genders:

Noun
Gender
Article


der Mann
Masculine
der


die Frau
Feminine
die


das Kind
Neuter
das


der Tisch
Masculine
der


die Schule
Feminine
die


das Buch
Neuter
das


der Hund
Masculine
der


die Katze
Feminine
die


das Auto
Neuter
das


der Apfel
Masculine
der


die Birne
Feminine
die


das Haus
Neuter
das

Conclusion

Understanding the gender of German nouns is crucial for correct grammar and sentence structure. By paying attention to word endings, articles, and the inherent meanings of nouns, you can accurately determine their gender and use them correctly in your German writing and speaking.

2025-02-08

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