Three genders
A1 · Beginner · Basics
The rule
Nouns are masculine (der), feminine (die) or neuter (das). Learn the article with each noun.
How it works
German has three grammatical genders: masculine (der), feminine (die) and neuter (das). Gender is a property of the noun, not of the object, so das Mädchen (the girl) is neuter. Gender controls the articles, the possessives and the adjective endings, so learning it early pays off throughout the course.
When to use it
Every German noun has one of three genders, which decides its article and the endings of words around it.
Use cases
- Choosing the correct article before a noun
- Predicting endings for adjectives and possessives
- Using pronouns: er for der-nouns, sie for die-nouns, es for das-nouns
Examples
- der Tisch – the table
- die Lampe – the lamp
- das Buch – the book
- Der Mann liest die Zeitung. – The man reads the newspaper.
- Das Mädchen spielt Fußball. – The girl plays football.
- Die Frau kauft einen Apfel. – The woman buys an apple.
Common mistake
Guessing the gender from the English word, which often does not match.
Memory tip
Learn every noun with its article: "der Tisch", "die Lampe", "das Buch". Endings like -ung, -heit and -keit are feminine, -chen is neuter.
Read the wider picture in our guide: German Articles: der, die, das Explained with Rules and Tips.