Finding the right gender of a noun

German articles are used similarly to the English articles,a and the. However, they are declined differently (change) according to the number, gender and case of their nouns.

In the German language, the gender and therefore article is fixed for each noun.

The most difficult part of learning the German language is the articles (der, die, das) or rather the gender of each noun. The gender of each noun in German has no simple rule. In fact, it can even seem illogical. For example das Mädchen, a young girl is neutral while der Junge, a young boy is male.

It is a good idea to learn the correct article for each new word together - even if it means a lot of work. For example learning "der Hund" (the dog) rather than just Hund by itself. Fortunately, there are some rules about gender in German that make things a little easier. It might be even nicer if these rules didn't have exceptions - but you can't have everything! The best way to learn them is with the App - Der-Die-Das Train! (available for iOS and Android)

German nouns belong either to the gender masculine (male, standard gender) with the definite article der, to the feminine (feminine) with the definite article die, or to the neuter (neuter) with the definite article das.

• for masculine: points of the compass, weather (Osten, Monsun, Sturm; however it is: das Gewitter), liquor/spirits (Wodka, Wein, Kognak), minerals, rocks (Marmor, Quarz, Granit, Diamant);

• for feminine: ships and airplanes (die Deutschland, die Boeing; however it is: der Airbus), cigarette brands (Camel, Marlboro), many tree and plant species (Eiche, Pappel, Kiefer; aber: der Flieder), numbers (Eins, Million; however it is: das Dutzend), most inland rivers (Elbe, Oder, Donau; aber: der Rhein);

• for neutrals: cafes, hotels, cinemas (das Mariott, das Cinemaxx), chemical elements (Helium, Arsen; however it is: der Schwefel, masculine elements have the suffix -stoff), letters, notes, languages and colors (das Orange, das A, das Englische), certain brand names for detergents and cleaning products (Ariel, Persil), continents, countries (die artikellosen: (das alte) Europa; however exceptions include: der Libanon, die Schweiz …).

German declension of Bongo?

How does the declension of Bongo work in the nominative, accusative, dative and genitive cases? Here you can find all forms in the singular as well as in the plural:

[1] Music, often in the plural: Cuban musical instrument, consisting of two small drums

[1] Sie spielte die Bongo wie eine Göttin.

[1] „Hier schlägt er kurz die Becken an, dort ertönt ein Wirbel auf den Bongos, mit den Füßen bearbeitet er derweil die Bassdrums und rührt dazu in seinen Trommeln, daß das Auge kaum folgen kann.“

[1] „‚Die Trommel ist blind für Geschlecht, Rasse oder Einkommen. In einer Trommelgruppe ist jeder ein Gewinner, der mit offenem Herz und Verstand dabei ist‘, zitiert Weber den Trommel-Guru Mickey Hart, schnappt sich eine Bongo und erzählt den Kindern im Rhythmus einer anderen Welt von der Geschichte Afrikas und einer Kultur, die im Gleichklang mit der Natur lebt.“

[1] „Congas sind die grossen Trommeln, Bongos die kleinen.“

[1] „Sämtliche Register kamen einzeln zu Wort, so die Trompeten im Dialog mit dem Holz, die ihre Führung an die Percussion abgaben; ein Bongo sorgte für zusätzliche Akzente.“

German declension of Bongo?

How does the declension of Bongo work in the nominative, accusative, dative and genitive cases? Here you can find all forms in the singular as well as in the plural:

[1] Zoology: Antilopen type that occurs in equatorial africa

[1] Im Wuppertaler Zoo gelang die seltene Nachzucht von Bongos in Gefangenschaft.

[1] „Man sah die Elefanten, Zwergnilpferde, Bongos und Waldrentiere.“

[1] „Kleine Bongos aber werden von ihren Müttern gesäugt.“