Nouns#
Most nouns in German have an inherent grammatical gender which can be either masculine (Maskulinum), feminine (Femininum) or neuter (Neutrum). Some nouns may occur in different genders in which case they usually carry different meanings.
Furthermore, nouns are declined (change their form) depending on the role they play in a sentence (indicated by their [[Syntax#Case System|case]]) and whether they refer to a single instance or multiple instances of the thing they refer to.
Case Declension#
The declension patterns for nouns depending on the case are few and rather simple because German does not really rely on the noun itself to indicate the case. Instead, the case is indicated by other means like [[Definiteness|articles]], [[Pronouns]] and [[Adjectives]].
Masculine and Neuter Nouns#
Masculine and neuter nouns add the ending -(e)s in the [[Syntax#Case System|genitive]] singular.
The full ending -es is used by nouns which end in -s, -ss, -ß, -z, -tz and -x. However, if the noun is of foreign origin and ends on an unstressed syllable in -s, -ss or -x, then it does not take an ending at all. Nevertheless, some foreign nouns have become sufficiently integrated into the language that both forms - with and without the ending - are common. Il
Example: Nouns Ending in -s, -ss, -ß, -z, -tz and -x
(m) Kreis -> des Kreises, eines Kreises, jedes Kreises, etc.
(n) Fass -> des Fasses, eines Fasses, jedes Fasses, etc.
(m) Fuß -> des Fußes, eines Fußes, jedes Fußes, etc.
(n) Kreuz -> des Kreuzes; eines Kreuzes, jedes Kreuzes, etc.
(m) Witz -> des Witzes, eines Witzes, jedes Witzes, etc.
(m) Rhythmus -> des Rhythmus, eines Rhythmus, etc.
(m) Stimulus -> des Stimulus, eines Stimulus, etc.
(n) Simplex -> des Simplex, eines Simplex, etc.
(m) Zirkus -> des Zirkuss / des Zirkusses, eines Zirkus / eines Zirkusses, etc.
(m) Bonus -> des Bonus / des Bonusses, eines Bonus / eines Bonusses, etc.
Words of Germanic origin which end in -sch can use either the short ending -s or the full ending -es, while foreign words which end in -sch use only the short ending.
Example: Words Ending in -sch
(m) Tisch -> des Tisches / des Tischs, eines Tisches / des Tischs
Fetisch -> des Fetischs
Nouns ending on an unstressed -el, -en, -em, -end, -er, -ich, -ig, -ing, -lein use only the short ending -s.
Example: Nouns Ending in -el, -en, -em, -end, -er, -ich, -ig, -ing, -lein
(n) Segel -> des Segels, eines Segels, etc.
(m) Atem -> des Atems, eines Atems, etc.
(m) Balken -> des Balkens
(n) Mädchen -> des Mädchens, eines Mädchens, etc.
(m) Abend -> des Abends, eines Abends, etc.
(n) Gitter -> des Gitters
(m) Teppich -> des Teppichs, eines Teppichs, etc.
(m) König -> des Königs, eines Königs
(n) Camping -> des Campings, eines Campings
(n) Bächlein -> des Bächleins
All other nouns can take on either the short ending -s or the full ending -es. People tend to use -es for monosyllabic words and -s for polysyllabic words. Foreign words usually use -s.
Weak Declension#
Dative Plural Declension#
Nouns whose plural ends in an unstressed -e, -el or -er also add -n in the [[Syntax|dative]] plural.
Example: Dative Plural
der Tag -> die Tage -> den Tagen
die Maus -> die Mäuse -> den Mäusen
das Segel -> die Segel -> den Segeln
der Geist -> die Geister -> den Geistern
Plural Formation#
There is no set of rules which govern how the plural of any given noun is formed - a noun must always be learnt together with its plural. However, there are certain patterns which nouns tend to follow.
Masculine Nouns#
Feminine Nouns#
Feminine nouns have by far the most predictable plural forms.
The vast majority of feminine nouns build the plural with the ending -(e)n, without [[Orthography and Phonology|Umlaut]]. If the noun already ends in -e, only -n is added. Otherwise, -en is added.
Example: Feminine Plurals in -(e)n
die Blume -> die Blumen
die Frau -> die Frauen
The second most popular pattern for the plurals of feminine nouns is the ending -e, accompanied by an [[Orthography and Phonology|Umlaut]] if possible. However, this pattern is much less common than the previous one.
Example: Feminine Plurals in -e + Umlaut
die Kraft -> die Kräfte
die Hand -> die Hände
die Kunst -> die Künste
The third largest group of feminine nouns are those which build the plural by simply adding -s, without Umlaut. Many of these are foreign words or contractions.
Example: Feminine Plurals in -s
die Kamera -> die Kameras
die Oma -> die Omas
All feminine nouns which are built from masculine nouns denoting professions and occupations using the suffix -in form the plural by just adding the ending -nen, without Umlaut.
Example: Feminine Nouns Formed with the Suffix -in
die Mitarbeiterin -> die Mitarbeiterinnen
die Lehrerin -> die Lehrerinnen
die Studentin -> die Studentinnen
All feminine nouns ending with the suffix -nis form the plural by just adding the ending -se without Umlaut.
Example: Feminine Nouns with the Suffix -nis
die Kenntnis -> die Kenntnisse
All feminine nouns ending with the suffix -sal form the plural by just adding the ending -e, without an additional Umlaut.
Example: Feminine Nouns with the Suffix -sal
die Trübsal -> die Trübsale
There are only two feminine nouns which form the plural without any ending - Mutter and Tochter. Both receive an Umlaut, though.
Example: The Plural of Tochter and Mutter
die Tochter -> die Töchter
die Mutter -> die Mütter
Neuter Nouns#
Many neuter nouns form the plural with the ending -e and without Umlaut. In fact, there are no or very few neuter nouns which add -e and an Umlaut.
Example: Neuter Plurals in -e
das Tier -> die Tiere
das Boot -> die Boote
Many neuter nouns have identical forms in the singular and the plural. Some, but not all, are listed below:
- Many neuter nouns which end in -en, -er or -el.
- All neuter nouns which follow the construction Ge-...-e;
- All neuter nouns ending in -lein or -chen.
Example: Neuter Nouns with Identical Singular and Plural Forms
das Kissen -> die Kissen
das Ufer -> die Ufer
das Gewebe -> die Gewebe
das Gebirge -> die Gebirge
das Gerippe -> die Gerippe
das Getriebe -> die Getriebe
das Mädchen -> die Mädchen
das Blümlein -> die Blümlein
Many neuter nouns form the plural by adding -er. Some nouns also receive an [[Orthography and Phonology|Umlaut]], while others do not.
Example: Neuter Plurals in -er
das Haus -> die Häuser
das Feld -> die Felder
Some neuter nouns build the plural by adding -s, without [[Orthography and Phonology|Umlaut]]. Many of these are of foreign origin.
Example: Neuter Plurals in -s
das Büro -> die Büros
das Konto -> die Kontos
There are alao a few neuter nouns which build the plural with the ending -(e)n, without [[Orthography and Phonology|Umlaut]]. If the noun already ends in -e, only -n is added. Otherwise, -en is added.
Example: Neuter Plurals in -(e)n
das Auge -> die Augen
das Hemd -> die Hemden