German Compound Nouns
Break long German words into parts, give every compound the right article, and add the linking -s- or -n- correctly.
German glues words together where English uses two words: the front door is die Haustür. That's why German words can get so long.
Read compounds from right to left. The last part is the main noun; everything before it describes it.
The last noun decides
The final noun gives the compound its gender, plural and basic meaning. The first part only adds detail.
First part + main noun
- das Haus + die Türdie Haustür
- die Hand + der Schuhder Handschuh
- der Apfel + der Saftder Apfelsaft
- die Küche + der Tischder Küchentisch
- der Kopf + das Kissendas Kopfkissen
Die Haustür ist schon wieder offen.
The front door is open again.
Ich habe einen Handschuh verloren.
I've lost a glove.
Linking letters: -s-, -n-, -er-
Sometimes a letter or two joins the parts. There is no complete rule, but these patterns are reliable.
- After -ung, -heit, -keit, -ion, -tät: always -s-.
- Feminine nouns in -e usually add -n-.
- Some nouns use their plural form: Kinderzimmer.
- Many compounds need nothing: Hausschlüssel.
With a linking letter
- Arbeit + Zimmerdas Arbeitszimmer
- Wohnung + Schlüsselder Wohnungsschlüssel
- Geburt + Tagder Geburtstag
- Sonne + Brilledie Sonnenbrille
- Straße + Bahndie Straßenbahn
- Kind + Gartender Kindergarten
Hast du meine Sonnenbrille gesehen?
Have you seen my sunglasses?
Wir fahren mit der Straßenbahn in die Stadt.
We're taking the tram into town.
Verbs and adjectives as the first part
A verb loses its -en and an adjective keeps its basic form. Nouns ending in -e sometimes drop it too.
Other first parts
- schreiben + Tischder Schreibtisch
- waschen + Maschinedie Waschmaschine
- kühl + Schrankder Kühlschrank
- groß + Stadtdie Großstadt
- Schule + Buchdas Schulbuch-e dropped
Der Kühlschrank ist leer.
The fridge is empty.
Mein Laptop steht auf dem Schreibtisch.
My laptop is on the desk.
Common mistakes
✗
das Handschuh✓ der Handschuh
The last noun, der Schuh, sets the gender.
✗
Arbeitzimmer✓ Arbeitszimmer
Arbeit takes a linking -s- in compounds.
✗
Haus Tür✓ Haustür
Compounds are written as one word.
Questions learners ask
Which gender does a German compound noun have?
Always the gender of the last noun. Das Haus + die Tür gives die Haustür, and das Kopfkissen follows das Kissen.
Why is there an s in Geburtstag?
It's a linking -s-, very common after certain nouns like Geburt, Arbeit and words ending in -ung. It has nothing to do with possession or plural.
Are compound nouns written as one word?
Yes, normally without spaces. A hyphen is used for clarity or with abbreviations, as in E-Mail-Adresse.