Pattern

Certain masculine nouns add -n/-en in all cases except nominative singular:

• der Student
• ich sehe den Studenten
• ich helfe dem Studenten
• die Meinung des Studenten

Frequent groups

Nationalities, professions, and some person nouns: der Mensch, der Kunde, der Kollege.

With adjectives

Declension still applies to the noun:

• dem jungen Studenten

Learning strategy

Store these nouns with a label like "n-declension" in your vocab list.

Practical Examples

• Ich sehe den Jungen jeden Tag auf dem Spielplatz.
• English: I see the boy every day at the playground.
• Usage Note: "Junge" is an N-declension noun. In the accusative case (object of "sehen"), it takes the "-n" ending.

• Hast du den Namen des neuen Kollegen?
• English: Do you have the name of the new colleague?
• Usage Note: "Name" is an N-declension noun. In the accusative case (object of "haben"), it takes the "-n" ending.

• Wir haben mit dem Studenten über das Projekt gesprochen.
• English: We spoke with the student about the project.
• Usage Note: "Student" is an N-declension noun. After the preposition "mit" (which always takes dative), it takes the "-en" ending.

• Kennen Sie den Herrn dort drüben?
• English: Do you know the gentleman over there?
• Usage Note: "Herr" is an N-declension noun. In the accusative case (object of "kennen"), it takes the "-n" ending.

• Die Meinung des Journalisten war sehr interessant.
• English: The journalist's opinion was very interesting.
• Usage Note: "Journalist" is an N-declension noun. In the genitive case (showing possession), it takes the "-en" ending.

• Der Zoo hat einen neuen Elefanten bekommen.
• English: The zoo got a new elephant.
• Usage Note: "Elefant" is an N-declension noun. In the accusative case (direct object), it takes the "-en" ending.

• Sie hat ihrem Nachbarn beim Umzug geholfen.
• English: She helped her neighbor with the move.
• Usage Note: "Nachbar" is an N-declension noun. After the verb "helfen" (which always takes dative), it takes the "-n" ending.

• Wir haben keinen Kunden erreicht.
• English: We didn't reach any customer.
• Usage Note: "Kunde" is an N-declension noun. In the accusative case (object of "erreichen"), it takes the "-n" ending. "Keinen" also shows the accusative.

• Ist das die Geschichte des Prinzen?
• English: Is that the prince's story?
• Usage Note: "Prinz" is an N-declension noun. In the genitive case (showing possession), it takes the "-en" ending.

• Er hat einen Gedanken, den er teilen möchte.
• English: He has a thought that he wants to share.
• Usage Note: "Gedanke" is an N-declension noun. In the accusative case (object of "haben"), it takes the "-n" ending.

• Ich erinnere mich nicht an den Buchstaben "ß".
• English: I don't remember the letter "ß".
• Usage Note: "Buchstabe" is an N-declension noun. After the preposition "an" (here taking accusative), it takes the "-n" ending.

• Der Polizist fragte den Zeugen nach Details.
• English: The policeman asked the witness for details.
• Usage Note: "Zeuge" is an N-declension noun. In the accusative case (direct object of "fragen"), it takes the "-n" ending.

• Das Herz eines Menschen ist komplex.
• English: A human's heart is complex.
• Usage Note: "Herz" is a special N-declension noun. In the genitive case (showing possession), it takes the "-en" ending.

• Sie hat dem Biologen eine Frage gestellt.
• English: She asked the biologist a question.
• Usage Note: "Biologe" is an N-declension noun. In the dative case (indirect object of "stellen"), it takes the "-en" ending.