The Genitive -s or -es in German: Which Ending?
Masculine and neuter nouns get an ending in the genitive, but is it -s or -es? This short but packed lesson explains how to choose the correct genitive ending. The video itself is explained entirely in German.
Which Nouns Get an Ending?
Only masculine and neuter nouns take an ending in the genitive. Feminine and plural nouns stay the same (der Frau, der Kinder).
When -es?
Use -es after nouns ending in s, ß, x, z, sch or tsch, where the extra e helps pronunciation, and often after short one-syllable nouns.
- das Dach des Hauses
- die Mitte des Platzes
- die Farbe des Tisches
- der Preis des Buches
When -s?
Use -s for most longer, multi-syllable nouns and for nouns ending in -el, -er or -en.
- das Auto des Lehrers
- die Tasche des Vaters
- der Name des Autos
Special Cases
Some masculine nouns (the n-Deklination) take -n or -en instead, such as des Studenten and des Herrn. Names take just -s and no article: Annas Auto.
Related Lessons
New to the genitive? Start with The German Genitive: Articles and Examples and the lesson on innerhalb & außerhalb. For gender, see Der Die Das? German Genders Explained.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I use -es in the genitive?
After nouns ending in s, ß, x, z, sch or tsch, and often after short one-syllable nouns, for example des Hauses.
When do I use -s in the genitive?
With most multi-syllable nouns and those ending in -el, -er or -en, for example des Lehrers.
Do feminine nouns get -s in the genitive?
No. Only masculine and neuter nouns take an ending.
What about weak masculine nouns?
They take -n or -en, for example des Studenten.
Do names take -s too?
Yes, without an article: Annas Auto. For names ending in s, ß, x or z, use an apostrophe: Max' Auto.
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