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 Halfter?

How does the declension of Halfter 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] (initially only on the saddle now also on the belt) bag for a pistol

[1] Der Wächter zog blitzschnell die Pistole aus dem Halfter.

[1] Trentowski fasste sich schnell und fiel dem Schimmel Maria Kasimiras in die Zügel, sie aber zog nicht minder rasch ihre Pistole aus dem Halfter und schoss sein Pferd nieder.

[1] Er streichelt die russische Pistole, die in einem Halfter an seiner schusssicheren Weste befestigt ist, schiebt ein Hosenbein bis über das Knie und zeigt eine Narbe, die vom Schienbein bis zum Knöchel verläuft.

[1] „Er nahm die Pistole aus dem Halfter und schoss dem Ulanen ein Loch in den Kopf.“

[1] „Das Hemd stand ihm am Hals offen, und durch das Schulterstück auf der linken Seite war der Halfter von einem schwarzen Sam-Browne-Koppel gezogen.“

German declension of Halfter?

How does the declension of Halfter 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] bridle -free bridle with straps to lead and connect from the horse, beef or other mounts

[1] Dem Pferd hatte man ein Halfter angelegt.

[1] Plötzlich schnaubte das angebundene Pferd heftig und suchte das Halfter zu zerreißen, indem es im Galopp einen weiten Halbkreis beschrieb; die vom Halfter zerbrochenen Zweige krachten laut.

[1] […]; der Reichgekleidete glitt anmutig zur Erde, ohne sein Kamel niedergehen zu lassen, warf seinem Begleiter den Halfter zu und sagte nachlässig: »Tränke sie, ich gehe derweil mich ausruhen.«

[1] „Am Halfter führt er ein zweites Pferd.“