Der, Die, and Das Articles on Nouns in German
Der
die
Das
German recognizes three genders for pronouns, namely masculine, feminine and neutral. In
this article , we will discuss using the articles der, die and das in nouns . Der is used for
masculine nouns, die for feminine, and das for neutral.
Actually, there is no 100% surefire way to know and differentiate the overall usage of der, die,
das articles. That way, the only way that is most effective is by memorizing the words and
articles one by one.
However, there are some patterns we can use to get a little insight into the usage of each of these
articles, although there are exceptions for some words.
The formula for distinguishing articles der, die, and das can be divided into 2 categories, namely
the type of object and certain prefixes or suffixes of the word.
Der
The article der is used with masculine gender nouns. The following are the characteristics of
nouns that use the article der.
Name of the day:
der Montag = Monday
der Dienstag = Tuesday
der Mittwoch = Wednesday
der Donnerstag = Thursday
der Freitag = Friday
der Samstag = Saturday
der Sonntag = Sunday
Month Name:
der Januar = January
der February = February
der März = March
der April = April
der Mai = May
der June = June
der July = July
der August = August
der September = September
der October = October
der November = November
der December = December
Season Name:
der Frühling = Spring
der Sommer = Summer
der Herbst = Autumn
der Winter = Winter
Some Weather Names:
der Regen = Rain
der Schnee = Snow
der Donner = Lightning
der Blitz = Lightning
der Strum = Hurricane
BUT
die Sonne = Sun
die Wolke = Cloud
Name of Cardinal Direction:
der Norden = North
der Süden = South
der Westen = West
der Osten = East
Natural Place Name:
der Strand = Beach
der See = Lake BUT die See = Sea
der Berg = Mountain
der Hügel = Hill
Male or Male Profession Name:
der Bauer = Farmer
der Fahrer = Driver
der Mechaniker = Mechanic
der Elektriker = Electrician
der Ingenieur = Engineer
der Flugbegleiter = Stewardess
der Jäger = Hunter
der Fischer = Fisherman
der Boxer = Boxer
der Fuballspieler = football player
Male Human or Male Animal:
der Großvater = Grandpa
der Vater = Father
der Onkel = Uncle
der Ehemann = Husband
der Jungen = Boy
der Brother = Little Brother
der Hahn = Rooster
der Kater = Tomcat
Car and Train Brands:
der BMW
der VW
der Ford
der Mercedes
der Audi
BUT
das Auto = Car
Types of Alcoholic Drinks :
der Wein = Wine
der Schnaps = Schnapps
der Wodka = Vodka
der Tequila = Tequila
BUT
das Bier = Beer
–ling ending:
der Zwilling = Twins
der Schmetterling = Butterfly
der Frühling = Spring
–ich ending:
der Teppich = Carpet
der Pfirsich = Peach
der Reticch = Radish
-ismus suffix:
der Kapitalismus = Capitalism
der Rasismus = Racism
der Communism = Communism
–ist ending:
der Polizist = Police
der Journalist = Journalist
der Socialist = Socialist
Jobs Ending with -er, -ant, -ent, -ner:
der Lehrer = Teacher
der Fahrer = Driver
der Berater = Consultant
der Rentner = Retired
der Gartner = Gardener
der Lieferant = Supplier
der Migrant = Migrant
der Patient = Patient
der Student = Student
Some Objects Ending in –er:
der Computer = Computer
der Drucker = Printer
BUT
die Butter = Butter
das Fenster = Window
Die
Articles most used by nouns. The article die is used with feminine gender nouns. The following
are the characteristics of nouns that use the article die.
Some names of trees and flowers:
die Blume = Flower
die Rose = Rose flower
die Aster = Aster flower
die Nelke = Carnation flower
die Dahlie = Dahlia flower
die Hyazinthe = Water Hyacinth
die Lilie = Lily
die Orchidee = Orchid flower
die Tulpe = Tulip flower
Women's work, the characteristics end in –in:
die Lehrerin = Female Teacher
die Fahrerin = Female Driver
die Studentin = Student
die Kanzlerin = Chancellor
die Kellnerin = Maid
die Bauerin = Female Farmer
die Backerin = Cake seller
die rztin = Female Doctor
die Aphotekerin = Female Pharmacist
die Journalistin = Female Journalist
die Richterin = Female Judge
die Anwältin = Female Lawyer
Role of Woman or Woman:
die Großmutter = Grandma
die Mutter = Mother
die Tochter = Daughter
die Aunt = Aunt
die Ehefrau = Wife
The ending –e and two syllables:
die Miete = Rent
die Reise = Travel
die Lampe = Lamp
BUT
der Kaese = Cheese
der Erbe = Cultural Heritage
der Auge = Eyes
The endings –age and –ade:
die Lage = Location
die Absage = Cancellation
die Anlage = Attachment
die Marmelade = Congestion
-ung ending:
die dude = Exercise
die Leistung = Performance
die Rettung = Rescue
End of –heit:
die Schönheit = Beauty
die Gesundheit = Health
die Krankheit = Disease
End of –keit:
die Freundlichkeit = Hospitality
die Geschwindigkeit = Speed
die Ehrlichkeit = Truth
die Ewigkeit = Eternity
-ur ending:
die Nature = Nature
die Agentur = Agent
die Temperature = Temperature
–tt suffix:
die Aktivität = Activity
die Qualityt = Quality
die Realität = Reality
die Intensität = Intensity
-ie ending:
die Industrie = Industry
dieDemocratie = Democratic
die Energie = Energy
die Allergies = Allergies
–schaft suffix:
die Freundschaft = Friendship
die Wirtschaft = Economy
die Gesellschaft = Society
die Mannschaft = Tim
-ion suffix:
die Information = Information
die Action = Action
die Discussion = Discussion
die Religion = Religion
-ik ending:
die Fabric = Factory
die Math = Math
die Techniques – Techniques
die Statistics – Statistics
-ei suffix:
die Polizei = Policewoman
die Datei = File
die Backerei = Bakery
die Metzgerei = Butcher
BUT
dai Ei = Egg
Suffix –anz/-enz:
die Distanz = Distance
die Toleranz = Tolerance
die Bilanz = Balance
die Konferrenz = Conference
die Existence = Existence
die Differenz = Difference
-at ending:
die Dean = Office of the Dean
die Automat = Robot
die Consulate = Consulate
Das
The article das is used with gender-neutral nouns. The following are the characteristics of nouns
that use the article das.
Element names:
das Wasser = Water
das Eisen = Iron
das Glas = Glass
das l = Oil
das Kupfer = Copper
das Plastic = Plastic
Color types:
das Rot = Red
das Blau = Blue
das Gelb = Yellow
das Grün = Green
das Weiß = White
das Schwarz = Black
das Braun = Chocolate
das Orange = Orange
das Rosa = Pink
das Lila = Purple
das Grau = Grey
BUT
das Farbe = Color
Verbs or adjectives become nouns:
Rauchen = Smoking das Rauchen = Smoking activities
Arbeiten = Work das Arbeiten = Work activities
Shöne = Beautiful das Schöne = Beauty
Schlecht = Bad das Schlechte = Bad
Ge- prefix:
das Gebäude = Building
das Gebirge = Mountains
das Geschäft = Business
das Geräusch = Noise
Suffix –chen/-lein:
das Mädchen = Girl
das Brötchen = Roti
das Häuslein = House
–icht suffix:
das Gesicht = Face
das Licht = Light
das Gericht = Court
-ment ending:
das Medikament = Medicine
das Instrument = Instrument
das Element = Element
BUT
der Moment = Moment
-nis ending:
das Zeugnis = Testimony
das Geheimnis = Secret
das Verständnis = Understanding
BUT
die Erlaubnis = Permission
die Erkenntni
