Learning German? Eventually, you’ll need some knowledge of German grammar if you want to have a better understanding of how the language works, and how to form correct sentences. Articles are a great place to start, because you’ve definitely already run across them if you’ve learned a few German words. This article is all about the different articles in German, and how to choose between der, die and das.
Der, Die, Das – A Closer Look at Articles in German
Let’s start with the basics. What are articles? Essentially, articles are the little words that come before nouns. In English, we only have one definite article – “the.” In German, there are three. They all start with a “d,” which could make things easier or more confusing, depending on who you ask. You need to use a different article depending on the gender of the noun that goes with it. Here are the definite articles in German:
- masculine = der
- feminine = die
- neuter = das
For lots of German learners, trying to figure out which article to use can be a real nightmare. But have no fear! With our tips, learning them is easy.
5 Tips for Always Choosing the Correct Articles in German
1. Memorize the article every time you learn a new noun in German
If you learn each noun with its article from the start, you’ll save yourself a lot of frustration later on. Write down the article-noun combination in a notebook, or repeat the pair over and over again until it sticks. This really helps reinforce your memory. Just remember: a noun is not complete without its article! Think of them as best friends, or even lovers… you wouldn’t want to break up a happy couple, would you?
2. Match nouns with colors
If you’re the kind of person who keeps an old-fashioned list of new words you learn, or if you’re into bullet journaling, break out some colored pens or markers. Every time you write down a new word, match it to one of three colors: one for masculine nouns, one for feminine, and another for neuter. (And of course don’t forget to write down the article itself.) It may sound strange at first, but it really helps you remember them! Instead of just associating a word with the letters that form it, you’ll create an entire mental image.
3. …or categories
Categories can often help you choose the correct articles in German, too.
For example: “der Monat” (month) is a masculine noun. So what is the right article for Januar, Februar, März (January, February, March) and so on? It’s also “der”! The same trick works for “der Tag” – der Montag (Monday), der Dienstag (Tuesday), der Mittwoch (Wednesday) and so on.
When we first start learning a language, we often learn nouns for the things around us. Think about the objects in your room, for example. Can you find a pattern? All the furniture that you can sit on is masculine. Decorations are feminine, and furniture for sleeping and relaxing is neutral!
Of course there are exceptions. But if you make up categories in your head and maybe even come up with a short story about groups of words, you’re sure to learn their articles faster!
4. How to hack compound words in German
German is known for its looooonnngggg words. They often combine two, three or more nouns and make one word out of them. For the purpose of articles, this is good news! Here’s why:
Let’s say I live in a house – das Haus – and the house has a door, die Tür. In many languages you’d say something like “the door of the house.” Not in German! Instead, just combine the nouns: “Haustür.” But what’s its article? Die Haustür, because the main subject is still a door.
Since it is my house, I have a key to this door. What is that called? It’s der Haustürschlüssel (front door key), of course! Key takeaway (pun intended)? In a compound word, the last word always determines the article!
5. Endings are your friend-ings
Now I want to direct your attention to noun endings. Certain endings are almost always for masculine nouns, others always go with feminine nouns, and yet others are neutral. If you know what they are, you’ll easily be able to identify the gender of the noun and choose the right article for it. There are quite a lot, but the list below contains the most common endings to look out for:
- Use der for most words that end in -er and -el. Like in: der Computer (computer), der Schlüssel (key), der Lehrer (teacher), der Rüssel (trunk).
- Die is the article you should use for most words that end in -heit, -keit, -ung and -schaft. As in: die Freiheit (freedom), die Gemeinsamkeit (community), die Erfahrung (experience) et die Freundschaft (friendship).
- And go with das if the noun ends in -chen, -ment and -ma. For example: das Brötchen (roll), das Dokument (document) et das Thema (subject).
Like I said, there are many other endings, and not all of them will help you navigate the German article jungle. But this short list is a good start.
We hope these tips will help and inspire you. Before I go, just a reminder that it’s totally okay if you happen to use the wrong article. People will still understand you! So don’t panic! The most important thing is to start speaking as soon as possible.
Magda’s Tips on German Articles
If you’re more of an auditory learner, check out these tips in Magda’s video. It’s totally in German, so you can work on your listening comprehension at the same time! But you can also turn on subtitles in one of six languages (including English and German) – click the gear icon to do that. Scroll down to watch, or head over to our YouTube channel. If Madga speaks a little too quickly for you, feel free to slow the video down. Click the gear button to change the playback speed. Enjoy!
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Je, unajifunza Kijerumani? Hatimaye, unahitaji ujuzi fulani wa sarufi ya Kijerumani ikiwa unataka kuelewa vizuri jinsi lugha hiyo inavyofanya kazi, na jinsi ya kutengeneza sentensi sahihi. Makala ni mahali pazuri pa kuanza, kwa sababu kwa hakika umewahi kukutana nazo ikiwa umejifunza maneno machache ya Kijerumani. Katika makala hii, tutazungumzia juu ya vifungu tofauti vya Kijerumani na jinsi ya kuchagua kati ya der, die na das. Der, Die, Das <unk> A Closer Look at Articles in German <unk> Hebu tuanze na mambo ya msingi. Makala ni nini? Kimsingi, vifungu ni maneno madogo yanayokuja kabla ya majina. Katika Kiingereza, tuna kifungu kimoja tu cha uhakika <unk> <unk> the. <unk> Katika Kijerumani, kuna tatu. Zote huanza na <unk>d,<unk> ambayo inaweza kufanya mambo kuwa rahisi au kuchanganyikiwa zaidi, kulingana na nani unayeuliza. Unahitaji kutumia kifungu tofauti kulingana na jinsia ya jina linaloambatana nalo. "Hii ni makala ya kipekee katika Kijerumani: ""Mume"" = ""Mwanamke"" = ""Mwanamke"" = ""Mwanamke"" = ""Mwanamke"" = ""Mwanamke"" = ""Mwanamke"" = ""Mwanamke"" = ""Mwanamke"" = ""Mwanamke"" = ""Mwanamke"" = ""Mwanamke"" = ""Mwanamke"" = ""Mwanamke"" = ""Mwanamke"" = ""Mwanamke"" = ""Mwanamke"" = ""Mwanamke"" = ""Mwanamke"" = ""Mwanamke"" = ""Mwanamke"" = ""Mwanamke"" = ""Mwanamke""" Lakini msiwe na hofu! Kwa kutumia vidokezo vyetu, ni rahisi kujifunza. 5 Njia za Kuamua Maandishi Yenye Haki Katika Kijerumani Kumbuka makala kila wakati unajifunza jina jipya katika Kijerumani Kama wewe kujifunza kila jina na makala yake kutoka mwanzo, wewe <unk>ll kuokoa mwenyewe mengi ya kukatishwa tamaa baadaye. Andika mchanganyiko wa neno na jina katika kitabu cha kumbukumbu, au rudia-rudia maneno hayo mpaka yafikie akili yako. Hii husaidia sana kuimarisha kumbukumbu yako. Kumbuka tu: neno halija kamili bila kifungu chake! Fikiria juu yao kama marafiki bora, au hata wapenzi... hutaki kuvunja wanandoa wenye furaha, sivyo? 2. Uwezekano wa kupata Ikiwa wewe ni aina ya mtu ambaye anaweka orodha ya zamani ya maneno mapya unayojifunza, au ikiwa unaingia katika jarida la risasi, fanya kalamu za rangi au alama. Kila mara unapoandika neno jipya, lilinganisha na mojawapo ya rangi tatu: moja kwa majina ya kiume, moja kwa majina ya kike, na nyingine kwa majina ya kimwili. (Na bila shaka usisahau kuandika makala yenyewe.) Huenda ikaonekana kuwa ya ajabu mwanzoni, lakini kwa kweli inakusaidia kuzikumbuka! Badala ya tu kuhusisha neno na herufi zinazolifanyiza, utaunda picha nzima ya akili. 3. Uwe na mtazamo wa kweli ...au makundi Makundi mara nyingi inaweza kukusaidia kuchagua makala sahihi katika Kijerumani, pia. Kwa mfano: <unk>der Monat<unk> (mwezi) ni jina la kiume. Kwa hiyo ni nini kifungu sahihi kwa Januari, Februari, Machi (Januari, Februari, Machi) na kadhalika? Pia ni <unk>der<unk>! Ujanja huo huo hufanya kazi kwa <unk>der Tag<unk> <unk> der Montag (Jumatatu), der Dienstag (Jumanne), der Mittwoch (Jumatano) na kadhalika. Tunapoanza kujifunza lugha, mara nyingi tunajifunza majina ya vitu vinavyotuzunguka. Fikiria vitu vilivyo katika chumba chako. Je, unaweza kupata kielelezo? Vifaa vyote unavyoweza kuketi juu yake ni vya kiume. Mapambo ni ya wanawake, na fanicha za kulala na kupumzika si za rangi! Bila shaka kuna mambo fulani yasiyo ya kawaida. Lakini ikiwa utaunda makundi kichwani mwako na labda hata utoe hadithi fupi kuhusu vikundi vya maneno, una uhakika wa kujifunza makala zao haraka zaidi! 4. Uwe na uhakika Jinsi ya kuharibu maneno ya mchanganyiko katika Kijerumani Kijerumani inajulikana kwa maneno yake looooonnngggg. Mara nyingi wao huchanganya majina mawili, matatu au zaidi na kutengeneza neno moja kutokana nayo. Kwa kusudi la makala, hizo ni habari njema! Hapa ni kwa nini: Hebu kusema mimi kuishi katika nyumba <unk> das Haus <unk> na nyumba ina mlango, kufa Tür. Katika lugha nyingi ungesema kitu kama <unk> mlango wa nyumba.<unk> Si katika Kijerumani! Badala yake, tu kuchanganya majina: <unk>Haustür.<unk> Lakini nini <unk> ni makala yake? Die Haustür, kwa sababu mada kuu bado ni mlango. Kwa kuwa ni nyumba yangu, nina ufunguo wa mlango huu. Hilo linaitwa nini? Ni der Haustürschlüssel (ufunguo wa mlango wa mbele), bila shaka! Kumbuka muhimu (pun lengo)? Katika neno lililofanyizwa, neno la mwisho sikuzote huamua kifungu cha maneno! 5. Uwe na mtazamo mzuri. Mwisho ni rafiki yako-ings Sasa nataka kuelekeza tahadhari yako kwa mwisho wa jina. Mwisho fulani ni karibu daima kwa majina ya kiume, wengine daima kwenda na majina ya kike, na bado wengine ni neutral. Ikiwa unajua ni nini, utaweza kwa urahisi kutambua jinsia ya jina na kuchagua kifungu sahihi kwa ajili yake. Kuna mengi sana, lakini orodha hapa chini ina mwisho wa kawaida wa kuangalia: - Tumia der kwa maneno mengi ambayo yanaishia katika -er na -el. Kama katika: der Computer (kompyuta), der Schlüssel (ufunguo), der Lehrer (mwalimu), der Rüssel (trunk). - Die ni makala unapaswa kutumia kwa maneno mengi ambayo kumalizika katika -heit, -keit, -ung na -schaft. Kama ilivyo katika: die Freiheit (uhuru), die Gemeinsamkeit (jamii), die Erfahrung (mazoezi) et die Freundschaft (urafiki). - Na kwenda na das kama jina inaisha katika -chen, -ment na -ma. Kwa mfano: das Brötchen (roll), das Dokument (hati) et das Thema (somo). Kama nilivyosema, kuna mwisho mwingine mwingi, na si wote watakusaidia kusafiri katika msitu wa makala ya Kijerumani. Lakini orodha hii fupi ni mwanzo mzuri. Tunatumaini kwamba vidokezo hivi vitakusaidia na kukuhamasisha. Kabla sijaondoka, nikukumbushe tu kwamba si jambo la kawaida kutumia kifungu kisichofaa. Watu bado watakuelewa! Kwa hiyo usishangae! Jambo la muhimu zaidi ni kuanza kuzungumza haraka iwezekanavyo. Magda's Tips on German Articles Kama wewe ni zaidi ya mwanafunzi wa kusikia, angalia vidokezo hivi katika video ya Magda. Ni kabisa katika Kijerumani, hivyo unaweza kufanya kazi juu ya kuelewa yako ya kusikiliza kwa wakati mmoja! Lakini unaweza pia kugeuza juu ya vichwa vya habari katika moja ya lugha sita (ikiwa ni pamoja na Kiingereza na Kijerumani) <unk> bonyeza gear icon kufanya hivyo. Kuangalia video au kuhamia kwenye kituo chetu cha YouTube. Ikiwa Madga anazungumza haraka sana kwa ajili yako, jisikie huru kupunguza mwendo wa video. Bonyeza kitufe cha gear kubadilisha kasi ya kucheza. Furahia! Je, ungependa kuanza kuboresha ujuzi wako wa lugha leo? Habari njema: tunaweza kusaidia! Habari nyingine nzuri: unaweza kuanza bila malipo! Kwa mfano, kwa kutumia jaribio la bure, unaweza kujaribu njia bora ya kujifunza Kijerumani kwa siku 15. Vocabulary flashcards, video na subtitles, audiobooks, makala iliyobadilishwa kwa ngazi yako <unk> na MosaLingua Premium (Web & Mobile), utakuwa na upatikanaji wa haya yote na zaidi. Anza sasa hivi. Ni bure <unk> na hatari-free <unk> kujaribu!