I. Theory
Both German and English use compound nouns (a noun created by combining nouns). In German, these words are formed in different ways, which are not always predictable. For this reason, it is best to commit them to memory. In this lesson, we will discuss the various ways these nouns can be formed.Here are some examples of the different formation methods:
| Bildschirm (no connector) Screen But Bilderbuch (-er-) Picture book Kaffeekanne (no connector) Coffee pot But Kaffee-Ersatz (-) Coffee substitute |
II. -e-
Several German compound nouns are joined together with an -e-. This is often found on nouns that end in a consonant.| Wir mussten drei Stunden im Wartezimmer sitzen. We had to sit in the waiting room for three hours. Die schlaue Maus vermied die Mausefalle. The clever mouse avoided the mouse trap. |
III. -er-
This connector is found after neuter nouns (their plural form is usually -er).| Man sagt, dass nachts auf diesen Gleisen ein Geisterzug fährt. People say that a ghost train rides these tracks at night. Meine Schwester liest ein Buch pro Woche. Sie ist ein echter Bücherwurm. My sister reads a book a week. She is a true bookworm. |
IV. Hyphenated Words
Like in English, hyphens are used in German when the first word is used in a sequence of words all ending with the same second word. It also is found when the first word comes from English or when it is unclear when one word ends and the other begins. When there is a hyphen, both nouns are capitalized.| Diese Medizin wird bei Kopf- und Körperschmerzen empfohlen. This medicine is recommended for headaches and body aches. Wenn ich mehr über ein Thema erfahren möchte, lese ich einen Enzyklopädie-Artikel darüber. When I want to learn about a subject, I read an encyclopedia article about it. |