Die n-Deklination
A small group of masculine nouns take an extra -n or -en ending in every case except nominative singular. These are called "weak nouns." Getting this wrong is a very common B1 writing mistake, so it is worth learning as its own pattern rather than folding it into general case endings.
| Case | der Junge (boy) | der Name (name) |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der Junge | der Name |
| Accusative | den Jungen | den Namen |
| Dative | dem Jungen | dem Namen |
| Genitive | des Jungen | des Namens |
Only the nominative singular stays unchanged. Every other form adds -n or -en. Name is a slight irregular case: it also adds -s in the genitive (des Namens).
Quick check: "I see the boy" (accusative) - Ich sehe den ______.
Most weak nouns are masculine and refer to people or animals, often ending in -e: der Junge, der Kollege, der Kunde (customer), der Löwe (lion). A second group does not end in -e but still follows the pattern: der Mensch (human), der Herr (gentleman - adds an extra -n: den Herrn), der Student, der Präsident. There is no single rule that predicts every case; a new word must be checked in a dictionary the first time.
Ich arbeite mit einem Kollegen zusammen. (I work together with a colleague. - dative, Kollege becomes Kollegen)
Das ist die Tasche des Studenten. (That is the student's bag. - genitive)
Quick check: which group of nouns is most likely to be weak - masculine nouns ending in -e referring to people, or feminine nouns?
| der Junge | boy | der Kollege | colleague |
| der Kunde | customer | der Mensch | human/person |
| der Herr | gentleman/Mr. | der Student | student |
| der Name | name | der Nachbar | neighbor |
Full case table and a longer list: Reference - N-Declension.
Quick check: what extra letter does "Herr" add on top of the usual -n pattern in the accusative/dative?
1. "That is the student's bag." (genitive) - Das ist die Tasche des ______.
2. Which case of a weak noun stays in its base, unchanged form?
Aligned with standard Goethe-Zertifikat B1 / telc B1 exam syllabus topics.
Want to practice declining a weak noun you actually use often, like a colleague's name? Ask your teaching agent.