n-Deklination (schwache Nomen)
n-Deklination — for English Speakers
Introduction
Some masculine German nouns add -n or -en in every case except nominative: der Student, den/dem/des Studenten. English lost noun declension centuries ago, so this concept feels alien. These 'weak nouns' are mostly masculine nouns ending in -e (der Junge, der Kollege) or foreign words ending in -ant, -ent, -ist, -at. The pattern is regular once you know which nouns belong to this group.
German vs English
In German
Ich frage den Studenten. (accusative adds -en)
In English
I ask the student. (no change in English)
Key Difference
English nouns never change for case; German n-declension nouns add -n/-en outside nominative.
In German
Der Name des Patienten. (genitive adds -en)
In English
The patient's name. (English uses 's)
Key Difference
English shows possession with 's; German n-declension nouns show all cases with -en.
Common Mistakes for English Speakers
Ich frage den Student.
Forgetting the -en ending — English nouns never add case endings, so it's easy to skip.
Er hilft dem Kollege.
Dropping the -n in dative — weak nouns need -n or -en in ALL cases except nominative.
Practice Examples
Ich kenne den Kollegen gut.
I know the colleague well.
Der Junge hilft dem Nachbarn.
The boy helps the neighbor.
Das ist der Name des Patienten.
That is the patient's name.
Memory Tip
N-declension nouns are 'needy' — they need an -n or -en added in every case except when they're the subject.
View Grammar Rule
n-Deklination (schwache Nomen)
n-Deklination — B1
Practice Exercises
n-Deklination (schwache Nomen) Übungen
8 exercises
Other Languages
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