German Noun Genders: der, die, das

Flashcards covering common endings and meaning groups for guessing 'der', 'die', and 'das' in German.

Feminine Nouns (die)

Often end in -e, -ung, -heit/-keit, -schaft, -ion, -tät, -ik, -ur, -ei. Also includes most trees/flowers and numbers as nouns.

Common Feminine Ending: -e

Examples include die Lampe, die Blume, die Straße (but exceptions like der Name).

Common Feminine Endings: -ung, -heit, -keit

Examples include die Zeitung, die Übung, die Freiheit, die Möglichkeit.

Common Feminine Endings: -schaft, -ion, -tät

Examples include die Freundschaft, die Wissenschaft, die Information, die Nation, die Universität.

Common Feminine Endings: -ik, -ur, -ei

Examples include die Musik, die Politik, die Kultur, die Natur, die Bäckerei, die Polizei.

Masculine Nouns (der)

Often end in -er, -en, -ling, -ig/-ich, -ant/-ent/-ist/-eur/-or/-us. Also includes days, months, seasons, directions & winds, car brands & alcohol (except das Bier).

Common Masculine Endings: -er, -en

Examples include der Lehrer, der Computer, der Student (singular).

Common Masculine Endings: -ling, -ig, -ich

Examples include der Schmetterling, der Lehrling, der Honig, der Teppich.

Common Masculine Endings: -ant, -ent, -ist, -eur, -or, -us

Examples include der Doktor, der Motor, der Student (as a group of people listed for this ending originally).

Neuter Nouns (das)

Often end in -chen/-lein, -ment, -tum, -um, -ma, -nis. Also includes young humans/animals, languages & most countries (but exceptions like die Schweiz, die USA).

Common Neuter Endings: -chen, -lein

Diminutives like das Mädchen, das Fräulein.

Common Neuter Endings: -ment, -tum, -um

Examples include das Instrument, das Department, das Eigentum (but der Reichtum), das Museum, das Datum.

Common Neuter Endings: -ma, -nis

Examples include das Thema, das Drama (from Greek origin), das Ergebnis (but die Erlaubnis).