Suffix: Endung, Nachsilbe
There are many different noun suffixes in German, each with its own meaning and usage. Here are some of the most common ones:
chen, er, heit, in, keit, lein, nis, schaft, tum, ung
chen
This is a diminutive suffixes. They make nouns into smaller or more endearing versions (e.g., Haus → Häuschen) (e.g., Mädchen → Mädelein).
These suffixes are used to form diminutive nouns, which are nouns that refer to smaller or less important versions of something. For example, “Haus” (house) becomes “Häuschen” (little house), and “Buch” (book) becomes “Büchelchen” (little book).
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er
This suffix has multiple uses:
- -ER can be used to form nouns from verbs, and it typically denotes the person who does the action. For example, “arbeiten” (to work) becomes “Arbeiter” (worker), and “singen” (to sing) becomes “Sänger” (singer).
- -ER can be used to form nouns from adjectives, and it typically denotes the thing that has the quality. For example, “alt” (old) becomes “Alter” (old age), and “jung” (young) becomes “Jugend” (youth).
- -ER can be used to form nouns from places, and it typically denotes the inhabitant of the place. For example, “München” (Munich) becomes “Münchner” (person from Munich).
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heit
This suffix is used to form nouns from adjectives, and it typically denotes a quality or state. For example, “gut” (good) becomes “Güte” (goodness), and “schnell” (fast) becomes “Schnelligkeit” (speed).
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in
This suffix is used to form feminine nouns from masculine nouns. For example, “Schüler” (student) becomes “Schülerin” (female student), and “Arbeiter” (worker) becomes “Arbeiterin” (female worker).
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keit
This suffix, like heit, is also used to form nouns from adjectives, and it is often interchangeable with “-heit.” However, “-keit” is more common for adjectives that end in “-lich.” For example, “wirklich” (really) becomes “Wirklichkeit” (reality), and “möglich” (possible) becomes “Möglichkeit” (possibility).
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lein
The suffix -lein in German is a diminutive suffix, which means it is used to create a smaller or more endearing form of a noun. This suffix often conveys a sense of affection or smallness. It is similar to the suffix -chen, but -lein is less commonly used in contemporary German and often has a more poetic or archaic tone.
Formation: When added to a noun, -lein often causes an umlaut (a vowel change) in the stem of the noun.
Gender and Plural: Nouns with the -lein suffix are always neuter and their plural form remains unchanged or takes the suffix -erlein or -leins.
Common Examples:
- Kind (child) → Kindlein (little child)
- Vogel (bird) → Vöglein (little bird)
- Mann (man) → Männlein (little man)
- Bach (brook) → Bächlein (little brook)
These diminutives are often used in literature, fairy tales, and in spoken language to express endearment or to describe something small and cute.
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nis
This suffix is used to form nouns from verbs, and it typically denotes the knowledge or experience of something. For example, “kennen” (to know) becomes “Kenntnis” (knowledge), and “lernen” (to learn) becomes “Lernnis” (learning).
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schaft
This suffix indicates a collective or a state (e.g., Freund → Freundschaft).
The suffix -schaft in German is used to form nouns that often denote a collective, a state, or a quality. It is similar to the English suffixes -ship and -hood. This suffix is quite versatile and can be added to various types of words to create new nouns.
Formation: When added to a noun or adjective, -schaft creates a new noun that often represents a group, a state of being, or an abstract concept.
Gender and Plural: Nouns formed with -schaft are always feminine and their plural form is created by adding -en.
Common Examples:
- Freund (friend) → Freundschaft (friendship)
- Wissenschaft (science) → Wissenschaftschaft (scientific community)
- Eltern (parents) → Elternschaft (parenthood)
- Bruder (brother) → Bruderschaft (brotherhood)
- Gesellschaft (society) → Gesellschaftschaft (societal community)
These examples illustrate how -schaft can be used to form nouns that describe various states, qualities, or groups.
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tum
This suffix indicates a state or condition (e.g., König → Königtum).
The suffix -tum in German is used to form abstract nouns that often denote a state, condition, or collective entity. It is similar to the English suffix -dom. This suffix can be added to nouns, adjectives, or verbs to create new nouns that describe a particular state or domain.
Formation: When added to a word, -tum creates a noun that often represents an abstract concept or a collective state.
Gender and Plural: Nouns formed with -tum are usually neuter and take the article das. Their plural form typically changes to -tümer.
Common Examples:
- König (king) → Königtum (kingdom)
- Christ (Christian) → Christentum (Christianity)
- Eigentum (property) → Eigentum (ownership)
- Held (hero) → Heldentum (heroism)
- Reichtum (wealth) → Reichtum (riches)
These examples illustrate how -tum can be used to form nouns that describe various states, qualities, or collective entities.
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ung
This suffix is used to form nouns from verbs, and it typically denotes the action or result of the verb. For example, “laufen” (to run) becomes “Laufung” (running), and “arbeiten” (to work) becomes “Arbeitung” (work).
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Last Updated on October 15, 2024
by Wort des Tages