Compound Nouns For Intermediate learners
What is a Nominal Compound?
A nominal compound (Nominalkomposita) which in English is more commonly known as a compound noun is a single noun that is formed from combining two or more words. These words are usually nouns, but other combinations are also possible.
Parts of the Compound Noun
Each compound noun consists of two main parts:
The head (Grundwort)
Determiner (Bestimmungswort)
The head
The head is the last word in the compound noun. It determines the basic meaning, gender, and plural form of the compound noun.
Determiner
The words before the head noun are determiners. These words describe or specify the head noun.
das Auto + die Tür = die Autotür
the car + the door = the car door
Head Noun = (Tür) | Determiner = (Auto)
schwimm + das Bad = das Schwimmbad
to swim + the bath = the swimming pool
Head Noun: (Bad) | Determiner: (schwimm)
Connectors
In German, compound nouns usually stuck together with a connector. This connector can be a single letter or a syllable. There is not a certain pattern for these connectors, and they need to be memorized.
This table shows the most common linking sounds.
Compound | Translation | |
|---|---|---|
-s- | das Liebeslied | love song |
-es- | der Tageslauf | daily routine |
-en- | der Studentenausweis | student ID card |
-n- | der Augenarzt | eye doctor |
-er- | der Kindergarten | kindergarten |
Note!
Not all compound nouns have a linking word. Actually, many compound nouns don't have any joint element.
der Kaffee + die Tasse = die Kaffeetasse (coffee cup)
der Zahn + der Arzt = der Zahnarzt (dentist)
Types of Combinations
German compound nouns are often formed by combining different types of words. These combinations create new meanings while functioning as a single noun.
Noun + Noun
Verb + Noun
Adjective + Noun
Preposition + Noun
Noun + Noun
This is the most common type of compound noun in German. Two nouns combine to form a new noun, and the final noun determines the grammatical gender.
der Tisch + die Decke = die Tischdecke
the table + the cloth = the tablecloth
die Sonne + die Blume = die Sonnenblume
the sun + the flower = the sunflower
Verb + Noun
In this combination, a verb stem joins with a noun to describe the purpose or function of something.
schreiben + der Tisch = der Schreibtisch
to write + the table = the desk
waschen + die Maschine = die Waschmaschine
to wash + the machine = the washing machine
Adjective + Noun
An adjective can combine with a noun to describe a defining characteristic or quality of the object.
hoch + das Haus = das Hochhaus
high + the house = the skyscraper
rot + der Wein = der Rotwein
red + the wine = the red wine
Preposition + Noun
Some compound nouns are formed using a preposition together with a noun. These combinations often create abstract or figurative meanings.
bei + der Spiegel = der Beispiegl
by/near + the mirror = the example (lit. "by-mirror")
voraus + das Denken = das Vorausdenken
ahead + thinking = foresight
Decoding Long Compound Nouns
German is famous for having very long compound words. You need to be able to break the long compounds in order to understand them.
In order to break down a compound, you should always start from the end. Once you find the head noun, it will be very easy to find the determiners.
die Kraftfahrzeughaftpflichtversicherung
Motor vehicle liability insurance
Here is the first meaningful word that you can find when you start from the end. It is the head noun.
die Versicherung (the insurance)
After this, you should look for determiners that specify or describe it.
die Kraftfahrzeughaftpflichtversicherung
Motor vehicle liability insurance
die Kraftfahrzeughaftpflichtversicherung
Motor vehicle liability insurance
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