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 Leiter?

How does the declension of Leiter 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] Person who leads something or is in a managerial position as a responsible manager

[2] Swiss: A youth and sports group leaders, but not necessarily professionally trained person

[3] Physics, technology: fabric that leads, runs through, passes through, continues, continues, continues

[1] Der Leiter eines Unternehmens hat meist große Befugnisse.

[1] Der Leiter dieser Abteilung hat auch im April mit der Arbeit begonnen.

[1] „Die Aussortierung erfolgte ausschließlich in den jeweiligen Ressorts von deren Leitern.“[6]

[1] „Heut bin ich im Funk Leiter vom Dienst und lerne einmal auch die Schwierigkeiten des Programmablaufs zur Genüge kennen mit eingeschobenen Ministerreden, überzogenen Zeiten usw.“[7]

[1] „Eingeladen waren rund 170 Leiterinnen und Leiter unterschiedlichster Einrichtungen wie etwa Stiftungen, Museen oder Gedenkstätten.“[8]

[2] „Für die Ausbildung der Leiter und Leiterinnen ist die Sportschule Magglingen im Auftrag des Bundesamtes für Sport verantwortlich[…]“[9]

[3] Das Berühren eines unter Spannung stehenden Leiters kann schmerzhaft und gefährlich sein.

[3] „Alle Metalle sind Leiter, besonders gute Leiter sind Silber, Kupfer und Gold.“[10]

German declension of Leiter?

How does the declension of Leiter 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] From two longitudinal rods (wooden) connected by sprouts or steps, with the help of which one person can go up to something or descend from something

[1] Der Obstbauer lehnte eine Leiter an den Baum und stieg hinauf, um leichter die Früchte erreichen zu können.

[1] „Über himmelhohem Abgrund schwingt sich die eiserne Brücke von Berg zu Berg, und jenseits führen Leitern wieder empor.“[4]

[1] „Er trug ein schrecklich zerflicktes blaues Monteurgewand, stieg von der Leiter herab und sagte wie auswendig gelernt:[…]“[5]

German declension of Leiter?

How does the declension of Leiter 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] Germany colloquially, otherwise South Africa (Kwazulu-Natal): mesh of knitted or crowded textile, especially stockings that have loosened and the rows slide down or upwards

[1] „Ich habe schon wieder eine Leiter im Strumpf!“[3]