TOPIC · Nouns (Nomen)

N-Declension in German

A2B1B2

After this lesson, learners will be able to recognize and apply N-declension in German nouns.

N-Deklination in German

The N-declension is a crucial aspect of German grammar. It affects certain masculine nouns that take a special ending in the genitive, dative, and accusative cases. In this lesson, we will explore which nouns are affected and how the declension works.

What is N-Deklination?

N-declension refers to specific masculine nouns that add the ending -n or -en in the genitive, dative, and accusative cases. This rule applies only to a specific group of masculine nouns.

Nouns with N-Deklination

Here are some examples of nouns that are affected by N-declension:

1. Nouns ending in „-e“:

der Kollege (the colleague)
der Junge (the boy)
der Kunde (the customer)
der Experte (the expert)
der Neffe (the nephew)

2. Nouns with specific endings:

Ending	Example
-oge	der Biologe (the biologist)
-ent	der Student (the student)
-ist	der Journalist (the journalist)

3. Other Nouns:

der Nachbar (the neighbor)
der Fotograf (the photographer)

Note: Some nouns, such as „der Nachbar“, receive the ending -n in the dative instead of -en.

Conjugation Table for N-Deklination

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	der Kollege	die Kollegen
Genitive	des Kollegen	der Kollegen
Dative	dem Kollegen	den Kollegen
Accusative	den Kollegen	die Kollegen

Conclusion

Understanding N-declension is essential for grammatically correct sentences in German. By practicing with various nouns, you will become more confident in using N-declension correctly.