Genus (Grammatical Gender)
Every German noun has a grammatical gender: masculine (der), feminine (die) or neuter (das). The gender belongs to the word, not to the thing: a table is masculine (der Tisch), a lamp feminine (die Lampe) and a girl neuter (das Mädchen). There is no rule that covers every noun, but word endings and groups of meaning give useful clues.
Usually masculine (der)
Male people and animals
der Mannman
der Vaterfather
der Lehrerteacher (male)
der Arztdoctor (male)
der Hahncockerel, rooster
Days, months, seasons and points of the compass
der MontagMonday
der JanuarJanuary
der Sommersummer
der Nordennorth
Endings -ismus, -ist, -ling, -or, -ig
der Tourismustourism
der Polizistpolice officer (male)
der Frühlingspring
der Motorengine
der Honighoney
Exceptions include das Labor (laboratory).
Usually feminine (die)
Female people and animals
die Frauwoman
die Muttermother
die Lehrerinteacher (female)
die Ärztindoctor (female)
die Kuhcow
The ending -in turns a masculine person noun into a feminine one: der Lehrer → die Lehrerin, der Arzt → die Ärztin, der Polizist → die Polizistin.
Most nouns ending in -e
die Lampelamp
die Taschebag
die Straßestreet
die Blumeflower
Common exceptions are der Junge (boy), der Name (name), der Käse (cheese), das Auge (eye) and das Ende (end).
Endings -ung, -heit, -keit, -schaft, -ion, -tät, -ie, -ik
die Zeitungnewspaper
die Gesundheithealth
die Möglichkeitpossibility
die Freundschaftfriendship
die Informationinformation
die Universitätuniversity
die Familiefamily
die Musikmusic
Nouns formed with the suffixes -ung, -heit, -keit, -schaft and -tät are always feminine, and almost all nouns ending in -ion are too; one exception is das Stadion (stadium). Among the endings -ie and -ik there are a few exceptions, such as das Knie (knee).
Usually neuter (das)
Diminutives with -chen and -lein
das Mädchengirl
das Brötchenbread roll
das Häuschensmall house, cottage
das Fräuleinyoung lady (old-fashioned)
The diminutive endings -chen and -lein always make a noun neuter, even when it refers to a person: das Mädchen (the girl). The stem vowel often takes an umlaut: das Haus → das Häuschen. Only the diminutive ending counts: der Kuchen (cake) simply ends in the same letters and is masculine.
Common mistake
Die Mädchen spielt im Garten. is wrong; correct: Das Mädchen spielt im Garten.
Mädchen ends in the diminutive -chen, so it is neuter, although it refers to a girl. Die Mädchen is the plural (the girls).
Verbs used as nouns
das Essenfood; eating
das Lebenlife
das Schwimmenswimming
Endings -um, -ment, -ma (mostly words from Latin and Greek)
das Museummuseum
das Zentrumcentre
das Dokumentdocument
das Thematopic
There are exceptions, for example der Moment (moment) and die Firma (company).
Compound nouns
A compound noun takes the gender of its last part: das Haus + die Tür = die Haustür (front door), der Kaffee + die Tasse = die Kaffeetasse (coffee cup), die Hand + das Tuch = das Handtuch (towel), die Kinder + der Garten = der Kindergarten. A well-known exception is der Mittwoch (Wednesday), although die Woche is feminine.
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Written by: Fatih Ün, German teacher · Last updated: