German words with gender
In German, nouns are assigned one of three grammatical genders: masculine (der), feminine (die), or neuter (das). While some gender assignments seem logical due to historical or linguistic patterns, others may appear arbitrary.
Below is an explanation for each word with an attempt to provide reasonable causes or patterns for their gender:
Rules for der
Gender | Endings/Categories | Examples |
---|---|---|
der | -er (often for male professions or tools) | der Lehrer (teacher), der Hammer (hammer) |
-el | der Apfel (apple), der Vogel (bird) | |
-ig | der Honig (honey), der König (king) | |
-ling | der Frühling (spring), der Schmetterling (butterfly) | |
-ich | der Teppich (carpet), der Pfirsich (peach) | |
-ismus (ideologies or movements) | der Kapitalismus (capitalism), der Tourismus (tourism) | |
-or (often for male roles or objects) | der Doktor (doctor), der Motor (motor) | |
-ant | der Elefant (elephant), der Demonstrant (protester) | |
-ent | der Student (student), der Präsident (president) | |
-us (often masculine) | der Bus (bus), der Fokus (focus) | |
Male beings | der Mann (man), der Vater (father), der Junge (boy) | |
Days, months, seasons | der Montag (Monday), der Januar (January), der Sommer (summer) | |
Cardinal directions | der Norden (north), der Süden (south) | |
Alcoholic beverages | der Wein (wine), der Schnaps (liquor) | |
Many weather terms | der Regen (rain), der Schnee (snow) | |
Exceptions | der Käse (cheese), der See (lake) |
Rules for die
Gender | Endings/Categories | Examples |
---|---|---|
die | -e (most nouns ending in -e are feminine) | die Lampe (lamp), die Katze (cat) |
-heit | die Freiheit (freedom), die Gesundheit (health) | |
-keit | die Möglichkeit (possibility), die Schnelligkeit (speed) | |
-ung | die Zeitung (newspaper), die Wohnung (apartment) | |
-in (female professions or beings) | die Lehrerin (female teacher), die Freundin (female friend) | |
-ei | die Bäckerei (bakery), die Bücherei (library) | |
-schaft | die Freundschaft (friendship), die Mannschaft (team) | |
-tät | die Universität (university), die Realität (reality) | |
-ion | die Nation (nation), die Diskussion (discussion) | |
-ik | die Musik (music), die Politik (politics) | |
-ur | die Natur (nature), die Kultur (culture) | |
-ade, -age, -anz, -enz | die Limonade (lemonade), die Garage (garage), die Eleganz (elegance) | |
Female beings | die Frau (woman), die Mutter (mother), die Tochter (daughter) | |
Many fruits and trees | die Banane (banana), die Birne (pear), die Eiche (oak tree) | |
Exceptions | die Butter (butter), die Antwort (answer) |
Rules for das
Gender | Endings/Categories | Examples |
---|---|---|
das | -chen (diminutives) | das Mädchen (girl), das Häuschen (little house) |
-lein (diminutives) | das Fräulein (young lady), das Büchlein (little book) | |
-um | das Museum (museum), das Zentrum (center) | |
-ment | das Dokument (document), das Experiment (experiment) | |
-nis | das Ergebnis (result), das Zeugnis (certificate) | |
-tum | das Eigentum (property), das Christentum (Christianity) | |
-o (often neuter) | das Auto (car), das Kino (cinema) | |
-ing (borrowed from English) | das Training (training), das Marketing (marketing) | |
Young beings | das Kind (child), das Baby (baby) | |
Metals and chemical elements | das Gold (gold), das Eisen (iron), das Wasserstoff (hydrogen) | |
Letters of the alphabet | das A, das B, das C | |
Infinitive nouns (gerunds) | das Schwimmen (swimming), das Lesen (reading) | |
Most hotels, cafes, and restaurants | das Hotel (hotel), das Café (cafe), das Restaurant (restaurant) | |
Exceptions | das Mädchen (girl), das Herz (heart) |
Masculine (der):
der Computer (the computer):
- Computers are often associated with tools or devices, which are typically masculine in German.
der Drucker (the printer):
- Derived from the verb drucken (to print), many tool-related nouns are masculine.
der Kugelschreiber (the ballpoint pen):
- Compound noun: Kugel (sphere) + Schreiber (writer). Masculine because Schreiber (writer, a person or tool) is masculine.
der Kuli (the pen):
- Shortened form of Kugelschreiber. The gender remains masculine, as it’s the same object.
der Tisch (the table):
- Tables and furniture items like chairs (but not cabinets) are often masculine.
der Schreibtisch (the desk):
- Compound noun: Schreiben (to write) + Tisch (table). It inherits the masculine gender from Tisch.
der Bleistift (the pencil):
- Compound noun: Blei (lead) + Stift (pen or stylus). Masculine because Stift is masculine.
der Laptop (the laptop):
- Loanword from English. Many devices borrowed into German are assigned masculine gender.
der Papierkorb (the wastepaper basket):
- Compound noun: Papier (paper) + Korb (basket). Masculine because Korb is masculine.
der Stuhl (the chair):
- Chairs are considered tools or objects of utility, aligning with masculine nouns.
Feminine (die):
die Uhr (the clock/watch):
- Objects measuring time (Uhr) are traditionally feminine in German.
die Zeitung (the newspaper):
- Ends with -ung, a common suffix for feminine nouns.
die Lampe (the lamp):
- Ends with -e, which is often indicative of feminine nouns.
die Schublade (the drawer):
- Ends with -e, and drawers are often categorized as feminine containers.
die Tasse (the cup):
- Ends with -e, and cups are considered feminine (possibly because containers can symbolize nurturing or “holding”).
Neuter (das):
das Papier (the paper):
- Material nouns (like paper, glass, or metal) are typically neuter.
das Buch (the book):
- Ends with -ch, often indicative of neuter nouns. Books are also inanimate objects without a clear association with gender.
das Handy (the cellphone):
- Loanword from English. Many modern devices in German default to neuter, especially if they don’t fit masculine or feminine patterns.
das Tablet (the tablet):
- Another loanword, treated as neuter due to its inanimate and technological nature.
das Telefon (the telephone):
- Derived from Greek roots; many borrowed technological terms default to neuter.
Patterns and Observations:
Masculine (der):
- Tools, devices, and objects with practical utility often default to masculine.
- Many masculine nouns relate to function or action (Drucker, Schreiber, etc.).
Feminine (die):
- Ends with -e or -ung, or implies nurturing/containing (Tasse, Schublade).
- Many feminine nouns are abstract or represent non-functional items (Zeitung, Lampe).
Neuter (das):
- Materials, abstract concepts, and new technological terms are often neuter.
- Compact or small inanimate objects (Handy, Tablet, Papier).
While these reasons follow some patterns, German noun genders can still be inconsistent and must often be memorized.