Lesson 3 of 8 · Level A1 · 12 min
der, die, das: nouns and articles
German full course
$10 / month
The first 2 lessons are free. Payment opens soon (card and EcoCash). Until then, every lesson is open to everyone.
In German every noun starts with a capital letter and has a gender: masculine (der), feminine (die) or neuter (das). In the plural, all of them use die.
| masculine | feminine | neuter | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the | der | die | das | die |
| a | ein | eine | ein | – |
Patterns that help
- Words ending in -ung, -heit, -keit, -schaft, -ion are die: die Ausbildung, die Sicherheit, die Information.
- Words ending in -chen and -lein are das: das Mädchen, das Brötchen.
- Days, months and seasons are der: der Montag, der Januar.
- Many words for male people are der, female people die: der Lehrer, die Lehrerin.
Always learn a noun together with its article, as one word: not “Vertrag” but “der Vertrag”.
Work and training
Tap the headphones to hear each one.
- die Ausbildungvocational training / apprenticeship
- der Betriebthe company / workplace
- die Berufsschulethe vocational school
- der Arbeitgeberthe employer
- der Vertragthe contract
- die Bewerbungthe application
- der Lebenslaufthe CV
- das Gehaltthe salary
- das Zeugnisthe certificate / school report
- die Stellethe job / position
Everyday
Tap the headphones to hear each one.
- der Mann, die Frau, das Kindthe man, the woman, the child
- die Wohnungthe flat / apartment
- das Geldthe money
- der Bus, die Bahnthe bus, the train
- das Handythe mobile phone
Quiz
1. Which article does “Ausbildung” take?
2. Which is correct?
3. What is the plural article for all genders?
4. Why is “Brötchen” (bread roll) neuter?
5. How do you write “contract” in German?