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 Schach?

How does the declension of Schach 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] No plural, mostly without an article: Strategic board game for two players, shortworthy for chess game

[2] A situation in the chess game in which a king is threatened directly

[3] No plural: According to the rules of the game no longer prescribed, announcement of [2]

[1] Setzten sich dann der Bürgermeister und der Doktor in ihrem Zorn, den sie nicht laut werden lassen durften, zu einer Partie Schach, so rückte der Neffe hinzu, schaute dem Bürgermeister mit seiner großen Brille über die Schulter herein und tadelte diesen oder jenen Zug, sagte dem Doktor, so und so müsse er ziehen, so daß beide Männer heimlich ganz grimmig wurden.

[1] „Nun spielten die drei Frauen drei Partien Schach.“

[2] Während er ihm mit der Dame Schach bot, sagte er so nebenbei: Der Weg für eine Heirat Lucrezias mit dem Prinzen Este von Ferrara ist frei.

[2] „Er mochte diesen Film, weil er zeigte, wie eine Handvoll Briten einen ganzen Kontinent in Schach hielten.“

German declension of Schach?

How does the declension of Schach 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] A German surname, family name

[1] Ein eintretender Diener meldete den Rittmeister von Schach, und ein Schimmer freudiger Überraschung überflog beide Damen, als der Angemeldete gleich darnach eintrat.