Gender of Masculine Nouns

There are three genders in German: Masculine, feminine and neuter. Usually, the noun gender is determined by the noun's ending. The endings that mark the masculine gender in order of most importance are:

-ich, -ist, -or, -ig, -ling, -ismus, -ant, -är, -eur, -iker and -ps

Endings that mark the masculine gender

Words ending with "-ich"

- How often this ending is seen: Average
- Plural with "-e"

carpet

Examples:

ExampleMeaning
der Teppichcarpet
der Sittichparakeet
der Abgleichadjustment
der Bereichrange
der Teichpond

Exception: das Reich (kingdom)

Words ending with "-ist"

- How often this ending is seen: Average
- Plural with "-en"
- Many come from Latin or Greek

artista

Examples:

ExampleMeaning
der Artistartist
der Egoistegoist
der Feministfeminist
der Herzspezialistcardiologist
der Komponistcomposer

Words ending with "-or"

- How often this ending is seen: Average
- Plural: The majority end with "-en" and some with "-e"
- Many come from Latin

Examples: fan

ExampleMeaning
der Ventilatorfan
der Motormotor
der Faktorfactor
der Marmormarble

Exceptions: das Fluor (Fluorine), das Chlor (chlorine), das Tor (gate), das Labor (laboratory), das Dekor (decoration)

Words ending with "-ig"

- How often this ending is seen: Less often
- Plural with "-e"

king

Examples:

ExampleMeaning
der Königking
der Honighoney
der Essigvinegar
der Käfigcage

Exception: das Reisig (brushwood)

Words ending with "-ling"

- How often this ending is seen: Less often
- Plural with "-e"

butterfly

Examples:

ExampleMeaning
der Schmetterlingbutterfly
der Frühlingspring
der Lehrlingapprentice
der Zwillingtwin

Exceptions: das Bowling, die Reling (railing)

Words ending with "-ismus"

- How often this ending is seen: Less often
- The plural follows this construction even though many nouns lack a plural form: "-ismus" ➜ "-ismen"
- Many come from Latin or Greek

optimism

Examples:

ExampleMeaning
der Optimismusoptimism
der Magnetismusmagnetism
der Expressionismusexpressionism
der Feudalismusfeudalism
der Kapitalismuscapitalism

Words ending with "-ant"

- How often this ending is seen: Less often
-Plural with "-en"
- Most words ending with "-ant", especially if they come from Latin

Examples:

diamond
ExampleMeaning
der Diamantdiamond
der Fabrikantmanufacturer
der Elefantelephant
der Lieferantsupplier

Exceptions: das Restaurant, die Want (shroud)

Words ending with "-är"

- How often this ending is seen: Not often
- Most words ending with "-är" are masculine, especially if they are from French
- The plural can be formed with "-e" (for words from French such as der Veterinär ➜ die Veterinäre) or with "-en" (der Bär die Bären)

bear

Examples:

ExampleMeaning
der Bärbear
der Veterinärveterinarian
der Aktionärstockholder
der Sekretärsecretary

Exceptions: das Militär (military), das Quartär (quartenary)

Words ending with "-eur"

- How often this ending is seen: Not often
- Plural with "-e" [der Friseur die Friseure]
- Many of them come from French

Examples:

hairdresser
ExampleMeaning
der Friseurhairdresser
der Amateuramateur
der Ingenieurengineer

Words ending with "-iker"

- How often this ending is seen: Not often
- No ending is added to form the plural [der Physiker die Physiker]
- They come from Latin or Greek

Examples:

politician
ExampleMeaning
der Alkoholikeralcoholic
der Informatikercomputer scientist
der Physikerphysicist
der Politikerpolitician

Words ending with "-ps"

- How often this ending is seen: Seldom
- Plural with "-e" (der Schlips ➜ die Schlipse) but sometimes an "Umlaut" is added to the last vowel of the world to make the plural (der Schnaps die Schnäpse)

Examples:

ExampleMeaning
der Schlipstie
der Gipscast
der Schnapsschnaps
der Klapsslap
tie

Now you can prove if you have mastered the material in a simple gender exercise (It's pretty fun)

Related topics:Feminine Noun Gender, Gender of Neuter Nouns