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Word Formation
Noun compounds
German uses compounds more often than English and they are formed by simply putting the two words together (sometimes adding an -n or -s in between), and using the gender of the last word. Die Woche (week) + der Tag (day) = der Wochentag (Days of the week)
The prefix un-
As in English, the prefix un- gives a word a negative or opposite meaning. klar (clear) - unklar (unclear)
The suffix -los
This suffix is often the equivalent of the English suffix -less, and is used to form adjectives and adverbs from nouns. das Ende (the end) - endlos (endless)
The suffix -haft
The suffix -haft is used to form adjectives from nouns so as to designate related qualities. das Kind (the child) - kindhaft (childlike)
The suffix -ung
This suffix may be added to the stem of a verb to form a noun. All nouns ending in -ung are feminine. wandern (to hike) - die Wanderung (the hike)
The suffix -er
This suffix designates a person is from a certain place. Frankfurt (a city) - Frankfurter (a person from Frankfurt)
The suffix -in
This suffix designates a female person and is added to the male counterpart. Architekt (male architect) - Architektin (female architect)
Adjectival Nouns
When referring to people, adjectives can sometimes be used as nouns. The definite article precedes the adjective, which is now capitalized because it is functioning as a noun. The adjectival nouns take the regular adjective endings for adjectives preceded by a der word as well.
der Alte - the old man
die Alte - the old woman
das Alte - everything that is old
die Alten - the old people
Ordinal Numbers
To form the ordinal numbers, just add -te to the cardinal numbers for 1-19, and -ste for 20 and up. The exceptions are erste, dritte, siebte, and achte.
| first |
erste |
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eleventh |
elfte |
| second |
zweite |
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twelfth |
zwölfte |
| third |
dritte |
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thirteenth |
dreizehnte |
| fourth |
vierte |
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fourteenth |
vierzehnte |
| fifth |
fünfte |
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fifteenth |
fünfzehnte |
| sixth |
sechste |
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sixteenth |
sechzehnte |
| seventh |
siebte |
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seventeenth |
siebzehnte |
| eighth |
achte |
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eighteenth |
achtzehnte |
| ninth |
neunte |
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nineteenth |
neunzehnte |
| tenth |
zehnte |
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twentieth |
zwanzigste |
In writing dates, German uses the number followed by a period. On February 2nd would be am 2. Februar. However, when saying this out loud, you would say am zweiten Februar. You must use the construction am + -en to answer a question beginning with Wann? But you use the construction der + -e to answer the question Welches Datum?
Wann sind Sie geboren? When were you born?
Am achzehnten Mai. On May 18th.
Welches Datum is heute? What is today's date?
Heute ist der neunte Oktober. Today is October ninth.
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