Feminine Noun Gender


There are three genders in German: Masculine, feminine and neuter. Usually, the gender of a noun is determined by its ending.

The endings for the most important feminine nouns are:

FrequencyEnding
Very common-ei-ung-in
-heit -keit-ion
Common-ie-schaft-elle
-ik-ur -ade
Rare-age, -ette-enz
-ere-ine-isse
-tät-itis-ive
-se-sis

Keep in mind that there are exceptions.

Unfortunately, there are many other feminine nouns that have different endings than these and whose gender is not easy to identify.

Gender of nouns ending with "-ei"

German police

- How often this ending is seen: Very often
- Plural with "-en"

Examples:

ExampleMeaning
die Polizeipolice
die Abteiabbey
die Konditoreiconfectionery
die Leckereidelicacy
die Dateifile

Exceptions:

ExceptionMeaning
der Breimash
der Schreiscream
der Papageiparrot
das Eiegg
das Einerleimonotony
das Bleilead

Gender of nouns ending with "-ung"

newspaper

- How often this ending is seen: Very often
- Plural with "-en"

Examples:

ExampleMeaning
die Zeitungnewspaper
die Dichtungpoetry
die Empfehlungrecommendation
die Erfahrungexperience

Exceptions:

ExceptionMeaning
der Schwungmomentum
der Sprungjump

Gender of nouns ending with "-in"

- How often this ending is seen: Very often
- Plural with "-nen"

female professor

NOTE: Nouns ending with "-in" only are feminine if they refer to a woman.

Examples:

ExampleMeaning
die Lehrerinfemale professor
die Darstellerinactress
die Eignerinfemale owner
die AustralierinAustralian woman
die Chefinfemale boss

Exceptions: All diminutives ending with "-lein" are neuter: das Madlein (the maiden)

Gender of nouns ending with -heit

- How often this ending is seen: Very often
- Plural with "-en"

freedom

Examples:

ExampleMeaning
die Freiheitfreedom
die Neuheitnovelty
die Sicherheitsafety
die Trägheitlaziness

Gender of nouns ending with "-keit"

dangerousness

- How often this ending is seen: Very often
- Plural with "-en"

Examples:

ExampleMeaning
die Gefährlichkeitdangerousness
die Höflichkeitpoliteness
die Langsamkeitslowness
die Häufigkeitfrequency

Gender of nouns ending with "-ion"

production

- How often this ending is seen: Very often
- Plural with "-en"

Examples:

ExampleMeaning
die Produktionproduction
die Funktionfunction
die Kanalisationdrainage
die Nationnation

Gender of nouns ending with "-ie"

- How often this ending is seen: Very often
- Plural with "-n"
- Many come from Latin or Greek

geography

Examples:

ExampleMeaning
die Geografiegeography
die Garantieguarantee
die Fantasiefantasy
die Galeriegallery
die Astronomieastronomy

Exceptions: der Zombie (zombie), der Yuppie (yuppie), der Unfreie (slave), der Laie (layman)

Gender of nouns ending with -schaft

- How often this ending is seen: Media
- Plural with "-en"

friendship

Examples:

ExampleMeaning
die Freundschaftfriendship
die Gemeinschaftcommunity
die Wirtschafteconomy
die Wissenschaftscience

Words ending with "-elle"

- How often this ending is seen: Media
- Plural with "-n"
- From Italian or French

wave

Examples:

ExampleMeaning
die Wellewave
die Zellecell
die Zitadellecitadel
die Quellesource
die Tabelletable

Exceptions: der Junggeselle (single), der Geselle (journeyman)

Gender of nouns ending with "-ik"

- How often this ending is seen: Media
- Plural with "-en"
- Many are from Greek or Latin

factory
Examples:

ExampleMeaning
die Fabrikfactory
die Musikmusic
die Techniktechnique
die Statistikstatistics
die Politikpolitics

Exceptions: der Atlantik (Atlantic), der Streik (strike)

Gender of nouns ending with "-ur"

- How often this ending is seen: Media
- Plural with "-en"
- Many of them are from Latin

Examples:

ExampleMeaning
die Kulturculture
die Naturnature
die Diktaturdictatorship
die Agenturagency

Exceptions:

  • Professions: der Chauffeur (driver), der Ingenieur (engineer), der Regisseur (director), etc.
  • References to male people: der Amateur (amateur), der Voyeur (voyeur), etc.
  • In addition: das Futur (future), das Abitur (exam at end of high school)

Gender of nouns ending with "-ade"

- How often this ending is seen: seldom
- Plural with "-n"

marmalade

Examples:

ExampleMeaning
die Marmelademarmalade
die Limonadelemonade
die Schokoladechocolate
die Schubladedrawer

Gender of nouns ending with "-age"

- How often this ending is seen: Seldom
- Plural with "-n"

Hermitage

Examples:

ExampleMeaning
die Eremitagehermitage
die Etagefloor
die Fragequestion
die Bandagebandage

Gender of nouns ending with "-ette"

- How often this ending is seen: Seldom
- Plural with "-n"
- Many are from French

disk

Examples:

ExampleMeaning
die Diskettedisk
die Etikettelabel
die Zigarettecigarette
die Marionettemarionette
die Kassettecassette

Gender of nouns ending with "-enz"

- How often this ending is seen: Seldom
- Plural with "-en"
- Many come from Latin or Greek

conference

Examples:

ExampleMeaning
die Konferenzconference
die Frequenzfrequency
die Transparenztransparency
die Turbulenzturbulence
die Tendenztendency

Gender of nouns ending with "-ere"

- How often this ending is seen: Seldom
- Plural with "-n"
- Many of them are from Italian or French.

scissors

Examples:

ExampleMeaning
die Scherescissors
die Portierecurtain
die Nierekidney
die Miseremisery

Exceptions: der Karabiniere (carbineer), der Gondoliere (gondolier), das Ampere (ampere)

Nouns ending with "-ine"

- How often this ending is seen: Seldom
- Plural with "-n"
- Many come from Latin or Greek

violin

Examples:

ExampleMeaning
die Violineviolin
die Vakzinevaccination
die Maschinemachine
die Ruineruin
die Leinerope

Exceptions: der Beduine (bedouin)

Nouns ending with "-isse"

- How often this ending is seen: Seldom
- Plural with "-n"
- Many of them are from Latin or Greek

narcissus

Examples:

- How often this ending is seen: Seldom
ExampleMeaning
die Narzissenarcissus
die Prämissepremise
die Kulisseframe
die Abzisseabscissa


Gender of nouns ending with "-tät"

- How often this ending is seen: Seldom
- Plural with "-en"
- Many come from Latin or Greek

university

Examples:

ExampleMeaning
die Universitätuniversity
die Pubertätpuberty
die Naivitätnaivety
die Paritätparity
die Prioritätpriority

Gender of nouns ending with "-itis"

- How often this ending is seen: Seldom
- Plural "-itis -iden "
- They come from Greek and are diseases (-itis means inflammation)

bronchitis

Examples:

ExampleMeaning
die Bronchitisbronchitis
die Cellulitiscellulitis
die Rachitisrickets
die Hepatitishepatitis

Nouns ending with -ive

- How often this ending is seen: Seldom
- Plural with "-n"

locomotive

Examples:

ExampleMeaning
die Lokomotivelocomotive
die Oliveolive
die Perspektiveperspective
die Alternativealternative

Gender of nouns ending with "-se"

- How often this ending is seen: Seldom
- Plural with "-n"

rose

Examples:

ExampleMeaning
die Roserose
die Zuckerdosesugar bowl
die Osmoseosmosis
die Badehoseswimming trunks

Gender of nouns ending with "-sis"

- How often this ending is seen: Seldom
- Plural "-sis -sen "

Examples:

ExampleMeaning
die Basisbasis
die Dosisdose
die Genesisgenesis

Exception: das Chassis (chassis)

We suggest you practice what you've learned by trying out your knowledge in a simple exercise about gender

Related topics: Gender of Masculine Nouns, Gender of Neuter Nouns