German nouns are always one of three genders: masculine, feminine, or neuter. The definite article changes accordingly:
- der for masculine nouns
- die for feminine nouns
- das for neuter nouns
How to determine noun gender
While there are many exceptions, here are some general rules:
- Masculine (der): Most nouns ending in -er, -en, -el; days, months, seasons; male people and animals
- Feminine (die): Most nouns ending in -e, -ung, -schaft, -heit, -keit; female people and animals; names of cars and motorcycles
- Neuter (das): Most nouns ending in -chen, -lein, -ment, -um, -ma; young people and animals; many nouns formed from infinitive verbs
Are there any categories of nouns in German where the gender is determined by meaning rather than ending?
Yes, for example, male people and animals are masculine; female people and animals are feminine; young people and animals are neuter.
In addition to endings, gender can be assigned based on the meaning, such as biological gender and age (young = neuter).
Examples for each gender
Here are some common examples:
| Masculine (der) | Feminine (die) | Neuter (das) |
|---|---|---|
| der Mann (man) | die Frau (woman) | das Kind (child) |
| der Tisch (table) | die Lampe (lamp) | das Fenster (window) |
| der Lehrer (teacher) | die Schule (school) | das Buch (book) |
| der Hund (dog) | die Katze (cat) | das Pferd (horse) |
| der Sommer (summer) | die Nacht (night) | das Jahr (year) |
Tips for learning and using gender
- Always learn nouns together with their definite article (e.g., der Tisch, die Lampe).
- Use gender-specific plural endings and adjective endings that accord with the article.
- Pronouns referring to nouns must match gender (er for der, sie for die, es for das).
- When in doubt, look up the noun in a dictionary to confirm its gender.
- Practice with examples and context rather than guessing rules alone.
German gender may seem arbitrary at first, but with practice you’ll learn to recognize patterns and instinctively recall the correct article.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
