German Words Ending in “n“213

German is a Germanic language with a rich vocabulary and a complex grammar. One of the characteristic features of German is the use of the letter "n" at the end of words. In this article, we will explore the various ways in which the letter "n" is used in German words and its impact on their meaning and pronunciation.

Noun Endings

In German, the letter "n" is commonly used at the end of nouns to indicate their grammatical gender. For example, nouns that end in "-chen" are typically neuter, while nouns ending in "-ung" are usually feminine. Here are a few examples:
Das Mädchen (the girl) - neuter
Die Frau (the woman) - feminine
Die Prüfung (the exam) - feminine

Adjective Endings

Adjectives in German also often end in "n" to agree with the gender and number of the noun they modify. For example, the adjective "groß" (big) changes its ending to "große" when it modifies a feminine noun and to "großen" when it modifies a plural noun:
Das große Haus (the big house) - neuter
Die große Frau (the big woman) - feminine
Die großen Häuser (the big houses) - plural

Verb Endings

The letter "n" is also used at the end of verbs in German to indicate the present tense third-person singular form. For example, the verb "sein" (to be) has the following present tense forms:
Ich bin (I am)
Du bist (you are)
Er/sie/es ist (he/she/it is)

Adverb Endings

In German, adverbs often end in "-n" to indicate their adverbial function. For example, the adverb "schnell" (quickly) is formed by adding "-n" to the adjective "schnelle" (fast):
Das Auto fährt schnell. (The car drives fast.)
Das Auto fährt schnell dahin. (The car drives quickly away.)

Diminutives and Augmentatives

The letter "n" is also used in German to form diminutives and augmentatives. Diminutive suffixes, such as "-chen" and "-lein," are added to nouns to make them smaller or more endearing:
Das Kind (the child) - das Kindchen (the little child)
Der Hund (the dog) - der Hündchen (the little dog)

Augmentative suffixes, such as "-on" and "-er," are added to nouns to make them larger or more emphatic:
Der Mann (the man) - der Mannon (the big man)
Das Haus (the house) - das Hauser (the big house)

Conclusion

The letter "n" plays a significant role in German grammar and vocabulary. It is used to indicate the grammatical gender of nouns, the agreement of adjectives and verbs, and the adverbial function of words. Additionally, it is used to form diminutives and augmentatives. Understanding the use of "n" is essential for anyone who wants to master the German language.

2025-01-14

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