Noun Gender
Every German noun has a gender: masculine (der), feminine (die), or neuter (das). The gender must be learned with each noun.
While there are some patterns that can help predict gender, many nouns must be memorized.
This lesson covers the three genders and some helpful patterns for determining gender.
Explanation
Masculine (der): Many male people and animals (der Mann, der Lehrer), days/months (der Montag, der Januar), seasons (der Winter), many nouns ending in -er (der Lehrer, der Computer).
Feminine (die): Many female people and animals (die Frau, die Lehrerin), most nouns ending in -ung, -heit, -keit, -schaft, -tion (die Zeitung, die Freiheit), most nouns ending in -e (die Blume, die Tasse).
Neuter (das): Most nouns ending in -chen, -lein (das Mädchen, das Fräulein), most nouns ending in -um (das Museum, das Datum), infinitives used as nouns (das Lernen, das Lesen), most nouns ending in -ment (das Instrument).
There are exceptions to these patterns, so it's best to learn the gender with each noun.
Noun Gender Patterns
| Gender | Article | Pattern Examples | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | der | Male people, -er ending | der Mann, der Lehrer | the man, the teacher |
| Feminine | die | -ung, -heit, -keit, -e | die Zeitung, die Blume | the newspaper, the flower |
| Neuter | das | -chen, -lein, -um, -ment | das Mädchen, das Museum | the girl, the museum |
Examples
Der Mann ist groß.
The man is tall. (masculine)
Die Frau ist nett.
The woman is nice. (feminine)
Das Kind spielt.
The child plays. (neuter)
Der Lehrer unterrichtet.
The teacher teaches. (masculine - -er ending)
Die Zeitung ist interessant.
The newspaper is interesting. (feminine - -ung ending)
Common Mistakes
die Mann
der Mann
'Mann' is masculine, so use 'der', not 'die'. Learn the gender with each noun.
der Frau
die Frau
'Frau' is feminine, so use 'die', not 'der'. Learn the gender with each noun.
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with interactive exercises. Practice makes perfect!
Start Exercises →Related Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which article to use?
German articles (der, die, das) depend on the gender of the noun. While there are some patterns, many nouns must be memorized. Practice and exposure to German will help you learn them naturally.
What's the difference between definite and indefinite articles?
Definite articles (der, die, das) mean 'the' and refer to specific things. Indefinite articles (ein, eine) mean 'a/an' and refer to non-specific things. Both must match the noun's gender: use 'ein' for masculine/neuter and 'eine' for feminine.
Are there rules for determining noun gender?
While there are some helpful patterns (e.g., words ending in -ung are usually feminine), there are many exceptions. The best approach is to learn nouns with their articles from the beginning.
What happens if I use the wrong article?
While using the wrong article is a common mistake, native speakers will usually still understand you. However, using the correct article is important for sounding natural and fluent in German.