Compound nouns are words created by combining two or more words.
For example: der Tisch (table) + die Lampe (lamp) = die Tischlampe (table lamp)
The last noun determines gender and plural form.
- das Haus + die Tür = die Haustür (front door) - feminine because "Tür" is feminine
- die Erdbeere + der Saft = der Erdbeersaft (strawberry juice)
- das Auto + die Versicherung + die Karte = die Autoversicherungskarte (car insurance card)
Combining forms (with or without linking elements)
While many compounds don't use any linking element, sometimes linking elements are inserted between the words. The most common linking elements are:
-s | Geburtstag (birthday)
Arbeitsplatz (workplace) |
-(e)n | Blumenvase (flower vase)
Taschenrechner (calculator) |
-e | Hundehütte (doghouse)
Mausefalle (mousetrap) |
-er | Kinderwagen (baby carriage)
Bilderbuch (picture book) |