Gender System

  1. Male - Männlich e.g Vater, Bruder
  2. Female - Weiblich e.g Mutter, Schwester
  3. Neutral - Sachlich/dinglich

Associating nouns with genders

Based on Noun Endings

All the nouns with a particular ending falls within a certain gender.

  • Masculine - Männlich

    Ending Example Remakrs
    -ich Teppich  
    -ig Essig  
    -ling Fäustling  
    -s    
    -and (lat.)/-ant (lat., roman.)    
    -är (fr.)    
    -ast (gr./lat.)    
    -eur/-ör (fr.)    
    -(i)ent (lat./roman.)    
    -ier(fr.)    
    -ier (fr./ital.)    
    -iker(gr./lat.)    
    -ikus (gr./lat.)    
    -ismus (gr./lat.)    
    -ist (lat.)    
    -or (lat.)    
    -er/-r   But not always
    • Except numbers are always female
  • Feminine - Weiblich

    Ending Example Remarks
    a    
    ei    
    in    
    heit    
    keit    
    schaft    
    ung    
    a (gr./lat./ital./span.)    
    ade (fr.)    
    age(fr.)    
    aille(fr.)    
    aise/    
    äse(fr.)    
    ance    
    äne(fr.)    
    anz(lat./roman.)    
    ation    
    elle(fr./ital.)    
    ette(fr.)    
    euse(fr.)    
    ie(lat.)    
    (i)enz(lat.)    
    (i)ere(fr./ital.)    
    ik(gr./lat./roman.)    
    ille(lat./fr./ital.)    
    ine(gr./lat./roman.)    
    ion/    
    ation(lat./fr./engl.)    
    isse(gr./lat./roman.)    
    (i)tät(lat./fr.)    
    itis(gr.)    
    ive(lat./fr.)    
    ose(gr.)    
    -sis/-se(gr.)    
    -ur(lat.)    
    -üre(fr.)    
    e   But not always
  • Neuter - Sächlich

    Ending Example
    chen, lein, le  
    icht  
    tel  
    tum  
    eau(fr.)  
    ett  
    in (long „i“)(gr./lat.)  
    ing(engl.)  
    (i)um(lat.)  
    ma(gr.)  
    ment(lat.),  
    ment (fr.)  

Based on Noun Groups

All the nouns falling in a particular group, i.e nouns following a general theme associates with a particular gender regardless of how they end.

  1. Masculine groups
    • Months and seasons
    • Weather elements
    • Currency
  2. Feminine groups
    • Trees
    • Fruits
    • Flowers
    • Numbers
  3. Neuter noun groups
    • Metals
    • Countries
    • Hotels