German N-Declension
Recognise weak masculine nouns on sight and add the -n or -en in every case where German expects it.
A small group of masculine nouns adds -n or -en in every case except the nominative singular. Grammar books call them weak nouns or the n-declension.
They are few, but many are common words for people: der Kollege, der Kunde, der Student, der Nachbar.
The rule: -n everywhere but the subject
Only the nominative singular keeps the bare form. Accusative, dative, genitive and all plural forms end in -n or -en.
Kennst du schon den neuen Kollegen?
Have you met the new colleague yet?
Ich habe gestern mit dem Polizisten gesprochen.
I spoke to the police officer yesterday.
Das ist das Zimmer des Studenten.
That's the student's room.
Forms of typical weak nouns
der Student
- Nominativeder Student
- Accusativeden Studenten
- Dativedem Studenten
- Genitivedes Studenten
- Pluraldie Studenten
der Kollege
- Nominativeder Kollege
- Accusativeden Kollegen
- Dativedem Kollegen
- Genitivedes Kollegen
- Pluraldie Kollegen
der Herr
- Nominativeder Herr
- Accusativeden Herrn
- Dativedem Herrn
- Genitivedes Herrn
- Pluraldie Herren-en only in plural
How to spot them
Almost all weak nouns are masculine, and most refer to people or animals. These groups cover nearly all of them.
Typical weak nouns
- -e (people, animals)der Junge, der Kunde, der Löwe
- -entder Präsident
- -antder Praktikant
- -istder Tourist
- -atder Soldat
- -ogeder Biologe
- othersder Mensch, der Nachbar, der Bär
Ich schreibe Herrn Schmidt eine E-Mail.
I'm writing Mr Schmidt an email.
Wir helfen unserem Nachbarn im Garten.
We're helping our neighbour in the garden.
Special cases: der Name, das Herz
A few nouns also add -s in the genitive: des Namens, des Gedankens, des Glaubens. Das Herz is the only neuter one: dem Herzen, des Herzens.
der Name
- Nominativeder Name
- Accusativeden Namen
- Dativedem Namen
- Genitivedes Namens
Ich habe seinen Namen vergessen.
I've forgotten his name.
Vielen Dank von ganzem Herzen!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Common mistakes
✗
Ich frage den Student.✓ Ich frage den Studenten.
Weak nouns add -en outside the nominative singular.
✗
Ich spreche mit dem Nachbar.✓ Ich spreche mit dem Nachbarn.
Nachbar is weak: dative dem Nachbarn.
✗
Der Kunden wartet.✓ Der Kunde wartet.
No -n in the nominative singular.
Questions learners ask
What is the n-declension in German?
It's a group of masculine nouns that add -n or -en in every case except the nominative singular. Der Junge becomes den Jungen, dem Jungen, des Jungen.
How do I know if a noun is weak?
Check for masculine people or animals ending in -e, and endings like -ent, -ant, -ist, -at and -oge. Dictionaries show it as des Studenten, die Studenten.
Why is it Herrn and not Herren?
Herr adds only -n in the singular (den Herrn) and -en in the plural (die Herren). In a letter's greeting, Sehr geehrter Herr Weber is nominative, so no -n.