Compound nouns (A1) – German grammar

Join nouns into one word; the last noun gives the article: die Küche + der Tisch = der Küchentisch.

Learn first:Definite and indefinite articles in the nominative

The gender rule for compound nouns

Component 1 (modifier)	Component 2 (base head)	Compound noun	Article rule	Plural
die Küche (fem.)	der Tisch (masc.)	der Küchentisch	takes der (from Tisch)	die Küchentische (like Tische)
das Haus (neut.)	die Tür (fem.)	die Haustür	takes die (from Tür)	die Haustüren (like Türen)
der Wein (masc.)	die Flasche (fem.)	die Weinflasche	takes die (from Flasche)	die Weinflaschen (like Flaschen)

The main points

Join nouns into one word: Haus + Schlüssel = Hausschlüssel.
The last noun gives the article: die Weinflasche.
The plural also follows the last noun: die Weinflaschen.
One word, one capital letter, no spaces.
Sometimes -s- or -n- joins the parts: Arbeitsplatz, Küchentisch.

Part 1 of 4

When you use it

1
Things in your home
- die Küche + der Tisch = der Küchentischkitchen + table = the kitchen table
- das Zimmer + die Tür = die Zimmertürroom + door = the door of the room
Many everyday things are named after where they belong: a table for the kitchen is a Küchentisch.
2
Work, offices and travel
- das Büro + das Gebäude = das Bürogebäudeoffice + building = the office building
- fahren → fahr- + die Karte = die Fahrkarteto travel + card = the ticket
Words for work, offices and transport are full of compound nouns.

The forms

The gender rule for compound nouns

The last noun decides the article and the plural of the whole word.

Component 1 (modifier)	Component 2 (base head)	Compound noun	Article rule	Plural
die Küche (fem.)	der Tisch (masc.)	der Küchentisch	takes der (from Tisch)	die Küchentische (like Tische)
das Haus (neut.)	die Tür (fem.)	die Haustür	takes die (from Tür)	die Haustüren (like Türen)
der Wein (masc.)	die Flasche (fem.)	die Weinflasche	takes die (from Flasche)	die Weinflaschen (like Flaschen)

What to notice

Write it as one word with one capital letter: Küchentisch. Only the last part changes in the plural: die Haustüren.

Part 2 of 4

Step by step

1
Find the last noun
Look at the last part of the word. In Haustür, it is Tür.
- Haus + Tür
2
Take its article
Tür is feminine (die), so Haustür is feminine too.
- die Tür → die Haustürthe door → the front door
3
Look for a linking letter
Sometimes a small -s- or -n- joins the two parts (→ W11).
- Arbeitsplatz, Küchentisch

Part 3 of 4

Common mistakes

~~der Küche Tisch (written as two words like in English)~~
der Küchentisch (written as one word in German)
A compound is one word. No spaces between the parts.
~~das Haustür (guessing the gender from Haus)~~
die Haustür
The last part decides: die Tür, so die Haustür.
~~der KüchenTisch~~
der Küchentisch
Only the first letter is a capital.

Exceptions

Tap one to open it.

Some compounds add -s-, -es-, -n- or -en- between the parts. It makes the word easier to say. More on this in W11.
- der Tag + die Zeit = die Tageszeitday + time = the time of day
A verb loses its -en: schreib-. An adjective has no ending: kühl. The last noun still gives the article.
- schreiben → schreib- + der Tisch = der Schreibtischto write + table = the desk
- kühl + der Schrank = der Kühlschrankcool + cupboard = the fridge

Don't mix it up

Compound noun or two separate words?

A compound is one word and takes its gender from the last part. A noun with a genitive is two separate words.

Structure type	Example	Rule
Compound noun (W01)	der Hausschlüssel	Written as one word, gender comes from the last part
Noun + genitive	der Schlüssel des Hauses	Separate words expressing possession

Part 4 of 4

In real life

Things in the apartment

David and Sarah are in their new flat in Leipzig, putting their things in place. · Tap EN for English.

David
Wo ist eigentlich der Hausschlüssel?
Sarah
Er liegt hier auf dem Küchentisch neben der Kaffeetasse.
David
Ah, danke! Kannst du bitte kurz die Balkontür öffnen?
Sarah
Ja, natürlich. Im Wohnzimmer ist es schon etwas warm.

That's the whole topic.

Next topicFemale job titles with -in

The gender rule for compound nouns

The main points

When you use it

Things in your home

Work, offices and travel

The forms

The gender rule for compound nouns

Step by step

Find the last noun

Take its article

Look for a linking letter

Common mistakes

Exceptions

Don't mix it up

Compound noun or two separate words?

In real life

Sources