The German language is very productive in compounding words. It is virtually possible to great a never-ending word. Of course, Germans do not carry word compounding to extremes, that is, compound words of everyday language do never consist of more than two or three separate words.<\/p>\n
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Anyway, this characteristic of the German language can be very useful for second language learners because it enables you to gain more communicative competence and you can understand words or \u201cmake up\u201d words that you even would not find in any dictionary but still be grammatically correct. Therefore, it might be helpful to know the rules how you can compound words, that is, inserting a linking \u201cs\u201d or not.<\/p>\n
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In my previous post I told you where and when the linking \u201cs\u201d is used in German, and I already began to talk about compound words in which this \u201cs\u201d is not inserted. In this post I\u2019d like to focus on compound words in which the German Fugen-s or linking \u201es\u201c is not used.<\/p>\n
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Before I go on, I want to let you know that the linking \u201cs\u201d is only inserted in some words to contribute to a smooth speech flow. In other words, the \u201cs\u201d is a connector for an easy pronunciation.<\/p>\n
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1. -er<\/strong><\/p>\n The linking \u201cs\u201d is not<\/strong> used in German with compound words in which the first word end with \u2013er. Compare:<\/p>\n der Angler<\/strong> \u2013 angler -> das Anglerlatein \u2013 fish tale<\/p>\n der B\u00e4cker<\/strong> \u2013 baker -> die B\u00e4ckerm\u00fctze \u2013 baker\u2019s cap<\/p>\n die Feier<\/strong> \u2013 celebration -> der Feierabend \u2013 quitting time; closing time<\/p>\n die Folter<\/strong> \u2013 torture -> der Folterknecht \u2013 torturer<\/p>\n der J\u00e4ger<\/strong> \u2013 hunter -> das J\u00e4gerschnitzel \u2013 escalope chasseur<\/p>\n der Keller<\/strong> \u2013 cellar -> die Kellert\u00fcr \u2013 cellar door<\/p>\n der Metzger<\/strong> \u2013 butcher -> der Metzgerladen \u2013 butcher\u2019s shop<\/p>\n Exceptions are: Hungers<\/strong>not \u2013 famine; Henkers<\/strong>mahlzeit \u2013 last meal<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2. First words of compound words that end with -el<\/strong><\/p>\n The linking \u201cs\u201d is not<\/strong> used with compound words in which the first word ends with \u2013el.<\/p>\n der Hagel<\/strong> \u2013hail -> der Hagelschauer \u2013 hailstorm<\/p>\n der Hebel<\/strong> \u2013 lever -> das Hebelgesetz \u2013 lever rule<\/p>\n das Kabel<\/strong> \u2013 cable -> die Kabeltrommel \u2013 cable drum<\/p>\n der Kegel<\/strong> \u2013 skittle -> der Kegellklub \u2013 skittles club<\/p>\n die Mandel <\/strong>\u2013 almond -> die Mandelaugen \u2013 almond eyes<\/p>\n das Pendel<\/strong> \u2013 pendulum -> die Pendeluhr \u2013 pendulum clock<\/p>\n der Nebel<\/strong> \u2013 fog -> das Nebelhorn \u2013 foghorn<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 3. First words of compound words that end with -en<\/strong><\/p>\n The linking \u201cs\u201d is not<\/strong> used with compound words in which the first word ends with \u2013en and in which the first word is not a nominalized verb. \u2013 Check my previous post on linking \u201cs\u201d.<\/p>\n der Boden \u2013 soil, floor, ground -> der Bodensatz \u2013 sediment<\/p>\n der Garten \u2013 garden -> das Gartentor \u2013 garden gate<\/p>\n eben \u2013 even, smooth, exactly -> das Ebenbild \u2013 likeness<\/p>\n neben \u2013 next -> die Nebenstra\u00dfe \u2013 side street<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 4. <\/strong>First words of compound words that end with <\/strong>sibilants<\/strong><\/p>\n The linking \u201cs\u201d is not used with compound words in which the first word ends with a sibilant (-sch, -s, -ss, -\u00df, -st, -tz, -z).<\/p>\n der Preis \u2013 price -> die Preisliste \u2013 price list<\/p>\n der Gru\u00df \u2013 greeting -> die Gru\u00dfkarte \u2013 greeting card<\/p>\n die Last \u2013 burden, load -> der Lastwagen \u2013 truck<\/p>\n der Sitz \u2013 seat -> das Sitzkissen \u2013 seat cushion\/pad<\/p>\n das Herz \u2013 heart -> die Herzkammer \u2013 heart chamber<\/p>\n Some first words of compound words can derive from verbs, for example, \u201cwaschen\u201d (to wash) and \u201cputzen\u201d (to clean). In these cases, you simply remove the ending from the stem, which results in \u201cwasch-\u201c and \u201cputz-\u201c.<\/p>\n der Waschsalon \u2013 laundrette<\/p>\n das Waschmittel \u2013 washing powder<\/p>\n das Putzmittel \u2013 polish, cleaning agent<\/p>\n das Putztuch \u2013 cleaning rag<\/p>\n Note: The German word \u201cPutz\u201d does also exist and means: plaster, rendering, grout.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Reference: Sick, Bastian (2004): Der Dativ ist dem Genitiv sein Tod \u2013 Ein Wegweiser durch den Irrgarten der deutschen Sprache, Kiepenheuer & Witsch. (Translation: The dative is the genitive his death \u2013 A guide through the labyrinth of the German language)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The German language is very productive in compounding words. It is virtually possible to great a never-ending word. Of course, Germans do not carry word compounding to extremes, that is, compound words of everyday language do never consist of more than two or three separate words. Anyway, this characteristic of the German language can…<\/p>\n