1. definite articles (nominative (first) case)
In German there’s three definite articles for singular nouns:
der (masculine), die (feminine), das (neuter)
and one definite article for plural nouns: die
Nouns for masculine persons and functions/professions: Vater, Pilot, Arzt;
Names of seasons: Frühling, Sommer, Herbst, Winter;
Names of months: Januar, Juli, Dezember;
Names of days of the week: Montag, Dienstag, Sonntag;
Names of compass directions: Nordwest(en), Süd(en);
Names of precipitations: Regen, Schnee, Hagel;
Names of car brands: Audi, BMW, Mercedes;
Nouns derived from verbs without suffix: Gang, Fang;
The following categories of nouns have mainly the article der:
Names of alcoholic beverages: Cognac, Wein, Whiskey;
exceptions: das Bier;
Names of rivers outside Europe: Amazonas, Mississippi;
Names of mountains: Mont Blanc, Kilimanjaro;
exception: die Zugspitze;
–er (nouns derived from verbs): Fahrer, Lehrer;
–ismus: Kapitalismus, Journalismus;
Most of nouns with the following suffixes have the article der:
–ant: Demonstrant, Elefant; exceptions: das Croissant, das Restaurant;
–ling: Lehrling, Schützling;
exceptions: das Dribbling, das Bowling;
–ner: Rentner, Schaffner, Zöllner; exceptions: das Banner, die Wiener (Wurst);
–or: Motor, Traktor;
exceptions: das Gegentor, das Chlor
Nouns for feminine persons and functions/professions: Mutter, Friseuse, Ärztin;
Names of motorcycle brands: Harley Davidson, BMW (only motorcycle), Yamaha;
Names of planes and ships: Boeing 747, Titanic;
Cardinal numbers: Eins, Drei;
Following categories have mostly feminine nouns:
Names of plants and trees: Birke, Chrysantheme, Rose; exceptions: der Ahorn, das Veilchen;
Furthermore, nouns with the suffixes below have the article die:
–heit: Freiheit, Sicherheit;
–keit: Möglichkeit, Schnelligkeit;
–schaft: Freundschaft, Mannschaft;
–t (nouns derived from verbs): Fahrt, Tat;
Foreign nouns with the suffixes below have the article die:
–ade: Hitparade, Marmelade;
–ion: Diskussion, Koalition;
–tät: Identität, Qualität;
Most of nouns with the following suffixes have the article die:
–e: Grenze, Lampe;
exceptions: der Junge, der Friede;
–ei: Abtei, Metzgerei;
exceptions: das Ei, der Papagei;
–ie: Diplomatie, Psychologie;
exceptions: der Junkie, der Hippie;
–in: Ärztin, Studentin;
exceptions: das Benzin, der Harlekin;
The following nouns have the article das:
Diminutives (–chen, –lein): Kaninchen, Fräulein;
Nouns derived from infinitives: Essen, Schreiben;
Nouns derived from adjectives: Gute, Böse;
Names of colors: Rot, Gelb, Blau;
The following categories of nouns have mainly the article das:
Almost all of the 112 known chemical elements: Aluminium, Kupfer, Uran;
6 exceptions: der Kohlenstoff, der Sauerstoff, der Stickstoff, der Wasserstoff, der Phosphor, der Schwefel;
Names of metals: Blei, Messing, Zinn;
exceptions: die Bronze, der Stahl;
Fractions: Drittel (⅓), Viertel (¼);
exception: die Hälfte (½);
Furthermore, nouns with the suffixes below have the article das:
–ial: Material, Potenzial;
Most of nouns with the following suffixes have the article das:
–ment: Instrument, Parlament;
exceptions: der Konsument, der Zement;
–nis: Ergebnis, Tennis;
exceptions: die Fahrerlaubnis, die Wildnis;
–o: Auto, Konto;
exceptions: die Avocado, der Euro;
–tum: Quantum, Ultimatum;
exceptions: der Reichtum, der Irrtum;
–um (nouns of Latin origin): Publikum, Museum, Stadium;
2. indefinite articles (nominative (first) case)
ein (masculine), eine (feminine), ein (neuter)
das Mal, -e time (as in number of times)
die Arbeit, -en work, job
die Frau, -en woman, wife, Mrs.
der Mensch, -en human being
der Herr, -en man, gentleman, Mr.
das Land, -¨er country, land
die Million (Mio.), -en million
Please fell free to ask me questions!
blakekathryn
origamiaround
