What Is the German “n-Declension”?

n-Declension.There is almost no declension of the nouns left in German. Apart from the opposition singular/plural there are only the endings “-n” in dative plural and the “-(e)s” in genitive singular masculine/neuter.

Nevertheless, these nouns are called “strong nouns” (meaning they change a lot) due to their plural form (with umlaut) and the genitive -s.

The n-declension is easier! 

First rule: The n-declension includes only masculine nouns.

Second rule: The nouns of this group (called “weak declension”) add only “-(e)n” in all the cases both in singular and plural except for the nominative singular.

1. Endings of the n-declension

  • If the noun ends in -e it adds only -n.
  • If it ends in a consonant it adds -en,
  • exceptions: Bauer/Nachbar add only -n, and Herr adds -n in singular and -en in plural.

2. Which nouns belong to this group

  • All masculine beings (i.e. with the article derthat finish in -eJunge, Kollege, Kunde, Neffe, Hirte, Jude, Bote, Affe, Hase, Löwe, Ochse, Drache including masculine nationalities with -e: Türke, Russe, Grieche, Ire, Finne, Tscheche, Pole, Slowake, Rumäne … (and also: Bayer, Ungar).
  • Other masculine beings: Mensch, Nachbar, Held, Bauer, Christ, Prinz, Graf, Bär, Fink, Spatz.
  • Professions and other designations for male beings that finish in: -ant, -and, -ent, -ist, -at-ad, -af, -loge (and also: Architekt, Philosoph, Pilot, Katholik, Poet, Chirurg, Zar) as well as some objects with the same endings: Automat, Diamant, Telegraf, Planet, Komet, Satellit, Asteroid/Android.
  • Notice that the Latin ending –or does not belong to the n-declension!

Examples

  • Wer ist dieser Junge? — Ich kenne den Jungen nicht.
  • Ich sehe den Rezeptzionisten am Telefon.
  • Da ist ein Bär! Hast du den Bären gesehen?
  • Wo finde ich einen Bankautomaten?
  • Ich suche einen Fotografen.
  • Sie spricht mit keinem Menschen.
  • Helga bewundert einen großen Elefanten.

Exceptions

There are 7 masculine nouns that belong to the n-declension but they add the genitive -s to their normal -n ending: Name, Buchstabe, Friede, Glaube, Wille, Gedanke, Funke. There is only one neutral noun belonging to the n-declension: das Herz (von ganzem Herzen). It also has the genitive-s.

  • Akkusativ: Wie schreibt man den Namen?
  • Genitiv: Ich mag die Form dieses Buchstabens.
  • Genitiv: Dies ist ein Symbol des Friedens.
  • Genitiv: Ich denke, das ist eine Frage des Glaubens.
  • Genitiv: Die Anatomie des Herzens.