Another little trick is to learn that in German, certain suffixes (word endings) take certain genders. That means you can figure out some words\u2019 genders based on their suffixes \u2013 for example, the suffix -chen<\/em>\u00a0takes \u2018das\u2019<\/em>, so the word M\u00e4dchen<\/em> (girl) is das M\u00e4dchen.<\/em><\/p>\n In this post, I\u2019ll list a handful of suffixes that take der, die, and das, to help you become familiar with them all. German being German, there are some exceptions to the rule, but I hope starting to see the repeating patterns will help you when you\u2019re confused!<\/p>\n Photo by Hayley Maxwell<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n -ist -ich -ling -or -eich -iker <\/p>\n Photo by Brett Carey<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n -enz -ung -keit -heit -schaft -t\u00e4t -in <\/p>\n Photo by Sergey Shmidt<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n -chen -lein -tum -ment <\/p>\n I hope this helps! Thanks for reading, Guten Tag! Today we\u2019re revisiting the subject of German word genders (articles), and how you can recognise if German words are masculine (der), feminine (die) or neuter (das), by looking at their suffixes. Learning the genders of every single German noun is no small task \u2013 especially when there is no hard and fast rule…<\/p>\nGerman Suffixes And Word Genders<\/h2>\n
![\"suffixes\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2021\/03\/hayley-maxwell-j03-l7Yc1uc-unsplash.jpg\")
Suffixes taking der<\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong>Examples: der Gitarrist (guitarist); der Fl\u00f6tist (flutist); der Tourist (tourist); der Polizist (policeman) \u2013 note these are all used for men, and their female equivalent would have the suffix \u2018in\u2019 after it (see \u2018suffixes taking die\u2019, below)<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Examples: der Teppich (rug); der Bereich (area); der Wellensittich (budgie); der Bienenstich (bee sting).<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Examples: der Feigling (coward); der Schmetterling (butterfly); der Fr\u00fchling (spring season); der S\u00e4ugling (baby).<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Examples: der Horror (horror); der Professor (professor); der Motor (motor); der Autor (author).<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Examples: der Bereich (area); der Vergleich (comparison) \u2013 however, words related to das Reich (empire), for example das K\u00f6nigreich (kingdom), are neuter (das).<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Examples: der Chemiker (chemist); der Diabetiker (diabetic); der Asthmatiker (asthmatic).<\/p>\n![\"suffixes\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2021\/03\/brett-carey-Lcs_1mqHC1w-unsplash.jpg\")
Suffixes taking die<\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong>Examples: die Existenz (existence); die Konkurrenz (competition); die Turbulenz (turbulence); die Assistenz (assistance)<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Examples: die Umarmung (hug); die Zeitung (newspaper); die L\u00f6sung (solution)<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Examples: die Einsamkeit (loneliness); die Gem\u00fctlichkeit (cosiness); die Schlaflosigkeit (sleeplessness).<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Examples: die Freiheit (freedom); die Schwachheit (weakness); die Gesundheit (health); die Gleichheit (equality).<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Examples: die Schwangerschaft (pregnancy); die Gemeinschaft (community); die Gesellschaft (society).<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Examples: die Realit\u00e4t (reality); die Kreativit\u00e4t (creativity); die Individualit\u00e4t (individuality); die Funktionalit\u00e4t (functionality).<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>(For females) Examples: die Freundin (girlfriend\/female friend); die Lehrerin (female teacher); die Polizistin (policewoman); die T\u00e4nzerin (female dancer).<\/p>\n![\"suffixes\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2021\/03\/sergey-shmidt-koy6FlCCy5s-unsplash.jpg\")
Suffixes taking das<\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong>Examples: das M\u00e4dchen (girl); das M\u00e4uschen (little\/baby mouse); das K\u00e4tzchen (little\/baby cat); das B\u00e4umchen (little\/young tree). See this post on diminutives to learn more.<\/a><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Examples: das Fr\u00e4ulein (young\/unmarried woman); das Fischlein (little fish); das Kerzlein (little candle); das
\nKindlein (little child). See this post on diminutives to learn more.<\/a><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Examples: das Christentum (Christianity); das Altertum (antiquity); das Eigentum (property).<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Examples: das Argument (argument); das Medikament (medication); das Kompliment (compliment); das Firmament (heavens\/firmament)<\/p>\n
\nConstanze<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"suffix\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2021\/03\/sergey-shmidt-koy6FlCCy5s-unsplash-350x234.jpg\")