Langvie / German grammar / German noun gender rules by ending
German noun gender rules by ending.
Noun endings in German often reveal the correct grammatical gender right away. Learning these key patterns will help you choose der, die, or das without memorizing every single noun from scratch.
Endings that take die
Nouns that end in -ung, -heit, -keit, -schaft, -ion, -tät, and -ur are always feminine. Most nouns ending in -e and all female job or person forms ending in -in also take die.
| Ending or group | Article | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -ung | die | die Wohnung |
| -heit | die | die Freiheit |
| -keit | die | die Möglichkeit |
| -schaft | die | die Nachbarschaft |
| -ion | die | die Station |
| -tät | die | die Universität |
| -ur | die | die Natur |
| -e | die | die Lampe |
| -in | die | die Nachbarin |
- Die Wohnung ist gemütlich.The apartment is cozy.
- Die Lampe ist neu.The lamp is new.
Endings that take das
Diminutives ending in -chen and -lein are always neuter. Most nouns ending in -um and -ment, as well as whole verb infinitives used as nouns, also take das.
| Ending or group | Article | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -chen | das | das Mädchen |
| -lein | das | das Brötlein |
| -um | das | das Zentrum |
| -ment | das | das Dokument |
| Verb as noun | das | das Essen |
- Das Dokument ist hier.The document is here.
- Das Wohnen hier ist schön.Living here is nice.
Endings and groups that take der
Male persons and professions take der. Days of the week, months, seasons, and nouns ending in -ling or -ismus are also masculine.
| Ending or group | Article | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Male person | der | der Lehrer |
| Days and months | der | der Montag |
| -ling | der | der Frühling |
| -ismus | der | der Tourismus |
- Der Lehrer wohnt hier.The teacher lives here.
- Der Montag ist frei.Monday is free.
Compounds and common exceptions
In compound nouns, the final noun always determines the gender. A few very common nouns ending in -e do not take die and must be memorized individually.
| Pattern or exception | Article | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Compound noun | last word decides | das Wohnzimmer |
| Exception: Käse | der | der Käse |
| Exception: Name | der | der Name |
| Exception: Auge | das | das Auge |
- Das Wohnzimmer ist möbliert.The living room is furnished.
- Der Käse ist gut.The cheese is good.
Exceptions to remember
- The noun Käse ends in -e but is masculine instead of feminine. Der Käse ist alt.
- The noun Auge ends in -e but is neuter instead of feminine. Das Auge ist blau.
- The noun Name ends in -e but is masculine instead of feminine. Der Name ist Meier.
Practice it in the course
This rule is chapter 11 of 31 in the A1 German course in Langvie, after er, sie, es for things in German and before The German indefinite article: ein, eine. In the app the chapter goes on with 8 exercises and a short spoken conversation with an AI partner, which opens with Hallo! Suchen Sie etwas? Die Lampe hier ist schön. Und das Bild? Es ist alt, aber gut.
Choose the correct definite article. ___ Wohnung ist gemütlich. (Die / Der / Das)
Die. Nouns ending in -ung always take the article die. The apartment is cozy.
Practice this rule in Langvie.
Chapter 11 of the A1 course, with exercises, cards and a conversation in German.