Compound nouns in German
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Compound nouns are nouns that are composed out of two or more words and then build a new word with sometimes a new meaning.
In German, it is very common to assemble several existing words to create new ones. The compound can be made from nouns, adjectives, verbs or an invariable element (prepositions). There is no limit of the number of the associated words. Following, you can find several rules to build a compound noun.
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Keep in mind: The last word always determines the gender, the number and the case of the compound noun. It is also the only one to decline depending on the case.
The emphasis is always on the first word of the compound noun, but not always on the first syllable.
To understand the meaning of compound word read from right to left. Here are some examples.
First noun | Second noun | Compound word |
---|---|---|
die Orangen - oranges | der Saft - juice | der Orangensaft - orange juice |
das Wasser - water | die Flasche - bottle | die Wasserflasche - water bottle |
There exist different combinations of compound words:
Associated nouns can be understood as simple or compound nouns. Here are some examples.
First noun | Second noun | Compound noun |
---|---|---|
das Hotel | das Zimmer | das Hotelzimmer - hotel room |
der Zahn | die Bürste | die Zahnbürste - tooth brush |
der Fußball | die Weltmeisterschaft | die Fußballweltmeisterschaft - world cup |
Some compound nouns are build out of the radical of a verb and another noun. Here are some examples.
Verb | Noun | Compound noun |
---|---|---|
essen | das Zimmer | das Esszimmer - dining room |
schreiben | die Maschine | die Schreibmaschine - typewriter |
laufen | der Schritt | der Laufschritt - double quick |
You can also form a compound noun out of an adjective or a particle and a noun. Have a look.
Adjective/participle | Noun | Compound noun |
---|---|---|
groß | die Stadt | die Großstadt - big city |
rot | der Kohl | der Rotkohl - red cabbage |
gebraucht | der Wagen | der Gebrauchtwagen - used car |
Some nouns are composed of an invariable element, often a preposition, and a noun. Here are some examples.
Invariable element/preposition | Noun | Compound noun |
---|---|---|
vor | der Ort | der Vorort - suburb |
aber | der Glaube | der Aberglaube - superstition |
To connect two nouns and to build a new noun, the first one needs an additional suffix. Either you have to add -s or -es or sometimes you have to use the plural forms of the first word.
Here you can find some examples for the juncture with -s or -es.
First noun | Second noun | Compound noun |
---|---|---|
der Staat | das Examen | das Staatsexamen - state examination |
der Liebling | die Farbe | die Lieblingsfarbe - favorite colour |
die Arbeit | die Kraft | die Arbeitskraft - worker |
This rule applies to all of the nouns with the suffix: -keit, -heit, -schaft, -ung, -ion, -tät, -ling, -tum.
Often the first noun is pluralized before being associated to with another noun. Here you can find some examples.
First noun | Second noun | Compound noun |
---|---|---|
die Kranken | die Schwester | die Krankenschwester - nurse |
die Straßen | die Lampe | die Straßenlampe - street lamp |
die Suppen | der Löffel | der Suppelöffel - tablespoon |
You know everything about compound nouns in German. Now you can practise them with some exercises.
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