Grammatical gender in German: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added

Inline

Revision as of 14:10, 12 April 2018

Grammatical gender in German is the way in which German nouns are classified to grammatical genders. All German nouns are included into one of three genders: masculine, feminine or neuter, and gender differences are not relevant in the plural form of nouns.^[1]^[2]

In German, it is best to memorize nouns with their accompanying definite article in order to know their gender.^{[note 1]} However, the manner a noun and its plural are constructed and its meaning can determine the gender of about 80% of nouns.^[1]^[2]

Noun forms

Derivational suffixes in particular, together with most noun endings, consistently relate with specific genders, and there are very few frequent exceptions to this (as reflected in the first column from the left). Nevertheless, the details in the second column are not solid rules, and their irregularities should be noted.^[2]

Nouns forms and gender^[2]^{[note 2]}
Masculine endings^[a]	Masculine gender hints
-ant, -ast, -ich, -ig, -ismus, -ling, -or, -us	The majority of nouns which come from strong verbs without a suffix (but often with a vowel change).^[b]
	60% of nouns in -el and -er, as well as 80% of those in -en,^[A] are masculine.^[c]
	67% of monosyllabic nouns.^[d]
Feminine endings^[e]	Feminine gender hints
-a, -anz, -ei, -enz, -heit,^[4] -ie,^[4]^{[note 3]} -ik,^[4]^{[note 3]} -in,^[f]^[4] -keit,^[4] -schaft, -sion,^[4]^{[note 3]} -tät, -tion,^[4]^{[note 3]} -ung,^[4] -ur	Most nouns ending in -t originating from verbs.^[g]
	The main part (90%) of nouns in -e.^[h]
Neuter endings^[i]	Neuter gender hints
-chen,^[7] -lein,^[7] -ma, -ment, -sel, -tel, -tum, -um	90% of the nouns with the prefix Ge-.^[j]
	Two-thirds of nouns in -nis and -sal.^[k]
	Most nouns ending in -al, -an, -ar, -är, -at, -ent, -ett, -ier, -iv, -o and -on (which are of foreign origin), provided that they desingnate things.^[B]

Notes for the first column:

^ Except das Labor, das Genus (gender), das Tempus (tense).
^ But: das Grab, das Lied, das Maß, das Schloss, das Verbot.
^
Nouns with -er arising from verbs are masculine (anyhow, most of them describe male human beings). Four categories which are not masculine:
- Nouns which stem from verb infinitives in -en are neuter (das Kochen);^[3]
- Nouns in -sel and -tel are neuter (see the first column);
- Roughly 15% of the other nouns in -el, -en and -er are neuter;
- Circa 25% of those in -el and -er are feminine.
^ The rest are 19% neuter and 14% feminine.
^ Apart from das Sofa, das Genie, der Atlantik, der Pazifik, das Mosiak, das Abitur, das Futur, das Purpur.
^ Chemical terms which end in -in (pronounced [iːn]) are neuter (das Benzin, das Protein).
^ Except for: der Dienst, der Durst, der Frost, der Verdienst, der Verlust, das Gift.
^
The main types of exceptions here are:
- A few neuter nouns, the most common of which are: das Auge, das Ende, das Erbe (when it means ‘inheritance’ or ‘heritage’), das Finale, das Image, das Interesse, das Prestige, das Regime.
- der Charme and der Käse;
- Most nouns with the prefix Ge- are neuter, even if they end with an -e (see the chart);
- Nine exceptional masculines: der Buchstabe, der Friede, der Funke, der Gedanke, der Glaube, der Haufe, der Name, der Same, der Wille (these end in -n in the plural and in the accusative and dative singular, but in -ns in the genitive singular^[5]);
- The weak masculines which are names of male persons and animals: der Affe, der Bote, der Junge, der Löwe (the weak masculines are a group of nouns, most of which denote male humans or animals, which end in -n or -en in the plural and in all cases besides the nominative^[6]).
^ Excluding die Firma, der Streusel, der Irrtum, der Reichtum, der Konsum.
^
The irregularities here are:
- Names of humans (der Gehilfe–die Gehilfin ‘assistent’ and so forth);
- A large number of feminine and masculine nouns:
  - die Gebärde, die Gebühr, die Geburt, die Geduld, die Gefahr, die Gemeinde, die Geschichte, die Geschwulst, die Gestalt, die Gewähr, die Gewalt;
  - der Gebrauch, der Gedanke, der Gefallen (favour), der Gehalt (content), der Gehorsam, der Genuss, der Geruch, der Gesang, der Geschmack, der Gestank, der Gewinn (Gefallen and Gehalt are neuter when they mean ‘pleasure’ and ‘salary’, respectively. See § Words whose meaning indicates their gender).
^ Approximately a third of them is feminine. More specifically, nouns derived from adjectives with the suffix -nis are primarily feminine.

Notes for the second column:

Noun meanings

Special cases

Nouns with unfixed gender

Words whose meaning indicates their gender

Notes

^ While Donaldson (2007) says that it is imperative to do so, Durrell (2017) only mentions that is an ideal method.
^ The lists of exceptions here do not necessarily include all of them. Furthermore, the notes referring to the information in the chart are referenced using the pages on its caption.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Donaldson (2007) asserts that all nouns of French origin ending in -ie, -ik and -ion are feminine.

References

^ ^a ^b Donaldson 2007, pp. 33–37.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Durrell 2017, pp. 1–5.
^ Donaldson 2007, p. 37.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Donaldson 2007, p. 36.
^ Durrell 2017, p. 35
^ Durrell 2017, p. 33
^ ^a ^b Donaldson 2007, p. 37.

Sources

Donaldson, Bruce (2007). German: An Essential Grammar. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-36602-1.

Durrell, Martin (2017). Hammer’s German Grammar and Usage (6th ed.). Routledge. ISBN 978-1-138-85371-3.

External links

Identifying a German Word’s Gender, For Dummies (on the Internet Archive).
Some Hints on How to Guess Gender, University of Michigan College of LSA (on the Internet Archive).

Cite error: There are <ref group=upper-alpha> tags or {{efn-ua}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=upper-alpha}} template or {{notelist-ua}} template (see the help page).

[5] Except das Labor, das Genus (gender), das Tempus (tense).

[6] But: das Grab, das Lied, das Maß, das Schloss, das Verbot.

[9] Nouns with -er arising from verbs are masculine (anyhow, most of them describe male human beings). Four categories which are not masculine:
Nouns which stem from verb infinitives in -en are neuter (das Kochen);^[3]

Nouns in -sel and -tel are neuter (see the first column);

Roughly 15% of the other nouns in -el, -en and -er are neuter;

Circa 25% of those in -el and -er are feminine.

[4] Nouns which stem from verb infinitives in -en are neuter (das Kochen);^[3]

[5] Nouns in -sel and -tel are neuter (see the first column);

[6] Roughly 15% of the other nouns in -el, -en and -er are neuter;

[7] Circa 25% of those in -el and -er are feminine.

[10] The rest are 19% neuter and 14% feminine.

[11] Apart from das Sofa, das Genie, der Atlantik, der Pazifik, das Mosiak, das Abitur, das Futur, das Purpur.

[14] Chemical terms which end in -in (pronounced [iːn]) are neuter (das Benzin, das Protein).

[15] Except for: der Dienst, der Durst, der Frost, der Verdienst, der Verlust, das Gift.

[18] The main types of exceptions here are:
A few neuter nouns, the most common of which are: das Auge, das Ende, das Erbe (when it means ‘inheritance’ or ‘heritage’), das Finale, das Image, das Interesse, das Prestige, das Regime.

der Charme and der Käse;

Most nouns with the prefix Ge- are neuter, even if they end with an -e (see the chart);

Nine exceptional masculines: der Buchstabe, der Friede, der Funke, der Gedanke, der Glaube, der Haufe, der Name, der Same, der Wille (these end in -n in the plural and in the accusative and dative singular, but in -ns in the genitive singular^[5]);

The weak masculines which are names of male persons and animals: der Affe, der Bote, der Junge, der Löwe (the weak masculines are a group of nouns, most of which denote male humans or animals, which end in -n or -en in the plural and in all cases besides the nominative^[6]).

[13] A few neuter nouns, the most common of which are: das Auge, das Ende, das Erbe (when it means ‘inheritance’ or ‘heritage’), das Finale, das Image, das Interesse, das Prestige, das Regime.

[14] der Charme and der Käse;

[15] Most nouns with the prefix Ge- are neuter, even if they end with an -e (see the chart);

[16] Nine exceptional masculines: der Buchstabe, der Friede, der Funke, der Gedanke, der Glaube, der Haufe, der Name, der Same, der Wille (these end in -n in the plural and in the accusative and dative singular, but in -ns in the genitive singular^[5]);

[17] The weak masculines which are names of male persons and animals: der Affe, der Bote, der Junge, der Löwe (the weak masculines are a group of nouns, most of which denote male humans or animals, which end in -n or -en in the plural and in all cases besides the nominative^[6]).

[19] Excluding die Firma, der Streusel, der Irrtum, der Reichtum, der Konsum.

[21] The irregularities here are:
Names of humans (der Gehilfe–die Gehilfin ‘assistent’ and so forth);

A large number of feminine and masculine nouns:
die Gebärde, die Gebühr, die Geburt, die Geduld, die Gefahr, die Gemeinde, die Geschichte, die Geschwulst, die Gestalt, die Gewähr, die Gewalt;

der Gebrauch, der Gedanke, der Gefallen (favour), der Gehalt (content), der Gehorsam, der Genuss, der Geruch, der Gesang, der Geschmack, der Gestank, der Gewinn (Gefallen and Gehalt are neuter when they mean ‘pleasure’ and ‘salary’, respectively. See § Words whose meaning indicates their gender).

[20] Names of humans (der Gehilfe–die Gehilfin ‘assistent’ and so forth);

[21] A large number of feminine and masculine nouns:
die Gebärde, die Gebühr, die Geburt, die Geduld, die Gefahr, die Gemeinde, die Geschichte, die Geschwulst, die Gestalt, die Gewähr, die Gewalt;

der Gebrauch, der Gedanke, der Gefallen (favour), der Gehalt (content), der Gehorsam, der Genuss, der Geruch, der Gesang, der Geschmack, der Gestank, der Gewinn (Gefallen and Gehalt are neuter when they mean ‘pleasure’ and ‘salary’, respectively. See § Words whose meaning indicates their gender).

[22] die Gebärde, die Gebühr, die Geburt, die Geduld, die Gefahr, die Gemeinde, die Geschichte, die Geschwulst, die Gestalt, die Gewähr, die Gewalt;

[23] der Gebrauch, der Gedanke, der Gefallen (favour), der Gehalt (content), der Gehorsam, der Genuss, der Geruch, der Gesang, der Geschmack, der Gestank, der Gewinn (Gefallen and Gehalt are neuter when they mean ‘pleasure’ and ‘salary’, respectively. See § Words whose meaning indicates their gender).

[22] Approximately a third of them is feminine. More specifically, nouns derived from adjectives with the suffix -nis are primarily feminine.

[3] While Donaldson (2007) says that it is imperative to do so, Durrell (2017) only mentions that is an ideal method.

[4] The lists of exceptions here do not necessarily include all of them. Furthermore, the notes referring to the information in the chart are referenced using the pages on its caption.

[:0-13] Donaldson (2007) asserts that all nouns of French origin ending in -ie, -ik and -ion are feminine.

[FOOTNOTEDonaldson200733–37-1] Donaldson 2007, pp. 33–37.

[FOOTNOTEDurrell20171–5-2] Durrell 2017, pp. 1–5.

[8] Donaldson 2007, p. 37.

[FOOTNOTEDonaldson200736-12] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Donaldson 2007, p. 36.

[16] Durrell 2017, p. 35

[17] Durrell 2017, p. 33

[FOOTNOTEDonaldson200737-20] Donaldson 2007, p. 37.

[1]

[2]

[note 1]

[note 2]

[a]

[b]

[A]

[c]

[d]

[e]

[4]

[note 3]

[f]

[g]

[h]

[i]

[7]

[j]

[k]

[B]

[3]

[5]

[6]

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 {| class="wikitable"
 |+Nouns forms and gender{{Sfn|Durrell|2017|pp=1–5}}<ref group="note">The lists of exceptions here do not necessarily include all of them. Furthermore, the notes referring to the information in the chart are referenced using the pages on its caption.</ref>
-!Masculine endings{{efn|Except ''das Labor'', ''das Genus'' (gender), ''das Tempus'' (tense).}}
+!Masculine endings{{efn|group=1|Except ''das Labor'', ''das Genus'' (gender), ''das Tempus'' (tense).}}
 !Masculine gender hints
 |-
 | rowspan="3" |''-ant, -ast, -ich, -ig, -ismus, -ling, -or, -us''
-|The majority of nouns which come from [[Germanic strong verb|strong verbs]] without a [[suffix]] (but often with a vowel change).{{efn-ua|But: ''das Grab'', ''das Lied'', ''das Maß'', ''das Schloss'', ''das Verbot''.}}
+|The majority of nouns which come from [[Germanic strong verb|strong verbs]] without a [[suffix]] (but often with a vowel change).{{efn|group=2|But: ''das Grab'', ''das Lied'', ''das Maß'', ''das Schloss'', ''das Verbot''.}}
 |-
-|60% of nouns in -''el'' and ''-er'', as well as 80% of those in ''-en'',{{efn-ua|Since no feminine nouns end in ''en''.}} are masculine.{{efn-ua|Nouns with ''-er'' arising from verbs are masculine (anyhow, most of them describe male human beings). Four categories which are not masculine:
+|60% of nouns in -''el'' and ''-er'', as well as 80% of those in ''-en'',{{efn-ua|Since no feminine nouns end in ''en''.}} are masculine.{{efn|group=2|Nouns with ''-er'' arising from verbs are masculine (anyhow, most of them describe male human beings). Four categories which are not masculine:
 * Nouns which stem from verb infinitives in ''-en'' are neuter (''das Kochen'');{{refn|[[#Donaldson2007|Donaldson 2007]], p. 37.}}
 * Nouns in ''-sel'' and ''-tel'' are neuter (see the first column);
@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 * Circa 25% of those in ''-el'' and ''-er'' are feminine.}}
 |-
-|67% of [[Syllable|monosyllabic]] nouns.{{Efn-ua|The rest are 19% neuter and 14% feminine.}}
+|67% of [[Syllable|monosyllabic]] nouns.{{Efn|group=2|The rest are 19% neuter and 14% feminine.}}
 |-
-!Feminine endings{{efn|Apart from ''das Sofa'', ''das Genie'', ''der Atlantik'', ''der Pazifik'', ''das Mosiak'', ''das Abitur'', ''das Futur'', ''das Purpur''.}}
+!Feminine endings{{efn|group=1|Apart from ''das Sofa'', ''das Genie'', ''der Atlantik'', ''der Pazifik'', ''das Mosiak'', ''das Abitur'', ''das Futur'', ''das Purpur''.}}
 !Feminine gender hints
 |-
 | rowspan="2" |''-a, -anz, -ei, -enz, -heit,''{{Sfn|Donaldson|2007|p=36}} ''-ie,''{{Sfn|Donaldson|2007|p=36}}<ref group="note" name=":0">Donaldson (2007) asserts that all nouns of French origin ending in ''-ie'', ''-ik'' and ''-ion'' are feminine.</ref> ''-ik,''{{Sfn|Donaldson|2007|p=36}}<ref group="note" name=":0" /> ''-in,''{{efn|Chemical terms which end in ''-in'' (pronounced [[Help:IPA/Standard German|[iːn]]]) are neuter (''das Benzin'', ''das Protein'').}}{{Sfn|Donaldson|2007|p=36}} ''-keit,''{{Sfn|Donaldson|2007|p=36}}
 ''-schaft, -sion,''{{Sfn|Donaldson|2007|p=36}}<ref group="note" name=":0" /> ''-tät, -tion,''{{Sfn|Donaldson|2007|p=36}}<ref group="note" name=":0" /> ''-ung,''{{Sfn|Donaldson|2007|p=36}} ''-ur''
-|Most nouns ending in ''-t'' originating from verbs.{{efn-ua|Except for: ''der Dienst'', ''der Durst'', ''der Frost'', ''der Verdienst'', ''der Verlust'', ''das Gift''.}}
+|Most nouns ending in ''-t'' originating from verbs.{{efn|group=2|Except for: ''der Dienst'', ''der Durst'', ''der Frost'', ''der Verdienst'', ''der Verlust'', ''das Gift''.}}
 |-
-|The main part (90%) of nouns in ''-e''.{{efn-ua|The main types of exceptions here are:
+|The main part (90%) of nouns in ''-e''.{{efn|group=2|The main types of exceptions here are:
 * A few neuter nouns, the most common of which are: ''das Auge'', ''das Ende'', ''das Erbe'' (when it means ‘inheritance’ or ‘heritage’), ''das Finale'', ''das Image'', ''das Interesse'', ''das Prestige'', ''das Regime''.
 * ''der Charme'' and ''der Käse'';
@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 * The weak masculines which are names of male persons and animals: ''der Affe'', ''der Bote'', ''der Junge'', ''der Löwe'' (the weak masculines are a group of nouns, most of which denote male humans or animals, which end in ''-n'' or ''-en'' in the plural and in all cases besides the [[nominative]]{{refn|[[#Durrell2017|Durrell 2017]], p. 33}}).}}
 |-
-!Neuter endings{{efn|Excluding ''die Firma'', ''der Streusel'', ''der Irrtum'', ''der Reichtum'', ''der Konsum''.}}
+!Neuter endings{{efn|group=1|Excluding ''die Firma'', ''der Streusel'', ''der Irrtum'', ''der Reichtum'', ''der Konsum''.}}
 !Neuter gender hints
 |-
 | rowspan="3" |''-chen,''{{Sfn|Donaldson|2007|p=37}} ''-lein,''{{Sfn|Donaldson|2007|p=37}} ''-ma, -ment, -sel, -tel, -tum, -um''
-|90% of the nouns with the [[prefix]] ''Ge-''.{{efn-ua|The irregularities here are:
+|90% of the nouns with the [[prefix]] ''Ge-''.{{efn|group=2|The irregularities here are:
 * Names of humans (''der Gehilfe''–''die Gehilfin'' ‘assistent’ and so forth);
 * A large number of feminine and masculine nouns:
@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
 ** ''der Gebrauch'', ''der Gedanke'', ''der Gefallen'' (favour), ''der Gehalt'' (content), ''der Gehorsam'', ''der Genuss'', ''der Geruch'', ''der Gesang'', ''der Geschmack'', ''der Gestank'', ''der Gewinn'' (''Gefallen'' and ''Gehalt'' are neuter when they mean ‘pleasure’ and ‘salary’, respectively. See [[#Words whose meaning indicates their gender|§ Words whose meaning indicates their gender]]).}}
 |-
-|Two-thirds of nouns in ''-nis'' and ''-sal''.{{Efn-ua|Approximately a third of them is feminine. More specifically, nouns derived from adjectives with the suffix ''-nis'' are primarily feminine.}}
+|Two-thirds of nouns in ''-nis'' and ''-sal''.{{Efn|group=2|Approximately a third of them is feminine. More specifically, nouns derived from adjectives with the suffix ''-nis'' are primarily feminine.}}
 |-
 |Most nouns ending in ''-al'', ''-an'', ''-ar'', ''-är'', ''-at'', ''-ent'', ''-ett'', ''-ier'', ''-iv'', ''-o'' and ''-on'' (which are of foreign origin), provided that they desingnate things.{{Efn-ua|If they describe persons, they are masculine. Irregularities: ''der Altar'', ''der Apparat'', ''der Automat'', ''der Kanal'', ''der Kanton'', ''der Kommentar'', ''die Manier'', ''die Moral'', ''die Person'', ''der Salat'', ''der Senat'', ''der Skandal''.}}
 |}
-'''Notes for the first column:'''{{Notelist}}'''Notes for the second column:'''{{Notelist-ua}}
+'''Notes for the first column:'''{{Notelist|group=1}}'''Notes for the second column:'''{{Notelist|group=2}}
 == Noun meanings ==