Noun gender: der, die, das

Every German noun has a grammatical gender: masculine (der), feminine (die) or neuter (das). Gender is often not logical: das Mädchen (the girl) is neuter. Always learn a noun together with its article. All nouns are written with a capital letter.

Endings that give it away

• die: -ung, -heit, -keit, -schaft, -ion, -tät, -ei, -ie, and most nouns in -e (die Anmeldung, die Freiheit, die Information).
• das: -chen, -lein (always!), -ment, -um, and infinitives used as nouns (das Mädchen, das Dokument, das Zentrum, das Essen).
• der: -er for people (der Lehrer), -ismus, -ling, days, months and seasons (der Montag, der Mai, der Winter).

Compound nouns

In a compound, the last part decides the gender: die Wohnung + der Schlüssel → der Wohnungsschlüssel.

Examples

• Der Termin ist um zehn Uhr.The appointment is at ten.
• Die Wohnung ist groß.The flat is big.
• Das Formular ist neu.The form is new.
• Das Mädchen spielt im Park.The girl is playing in the park.
• Die Kinder sind in der Schule.The children are at school.

Common mistakes

• ✗ Die Mädchen spielt im Garten.✓ Das Mädchen spielt im Garten.English thinks of a girl as “she”, but every noun in -chen is neuter, so it is das Mädchen; the singular verb spielt shows it is one girl.
• ✗ der Wohnung✓ die WohnungEnglish nouns have no gender, so look at the ending: nouns in -ung are always feminine, so it is die Wohnung.
• ✗ die Dokument✓ das DokumentNouns ending in -ment, such as das Dokument or das Medikament, are neuter in German, even though English gives no hint.
• ✗ das Montag✓ der MontagAll days of the week are masculine in German: der Montag, der Freitag. English has no article to help you.
• ✗ die Wohnungsschlüssel✓ der WohnungsschlüsselIn a compound the last part decides the gender: Schlüssel is masculine, so it is der Wohnungsschlüssel, not die from Wohnung.