GENDER PATTERNS AND HINTS

MASCULINE NOUNS (der)

− Male persons [incuding agents (persons who do something), temrs for relations,
occupations, nationalities, and religions).

der Mann (man), der Mitarbeiter (male employee), der Bruder (brother), der Lehrer
(male teacher), der Spanier (male Spanish), der Jude (jew)

− Male domestic or "commonly-known" animals.

der Hund (dog), der Löwe (lion)

− Some generic terms for animals that include both sexes.

der Delphin (dolphin), der Elefant (elephant)

− Parts of the day, days of the week, months, and seasons.

der Morgen (morning), der Abend (evening) [BUT: die Nacht (night)]

der Montag (Monday), der Mittwoch (Wednesday)

der April (April), der Mai (May)

der Winter (winter), der Sommer (summer) [BUT: das Frühjahr (spring)]

− Compass points and map locations.

der Norden (north), der Südosten (southeast)

− Weather features and types of wind.

der Regen (rain), der Mistral (a cold-dry wind)

− Minerals and rocks.

der Quarz (quartz), der Granit (granite)

− Currencies.

der Euro (euro), der Pfennig (penny)

EXCEPTIONS

a) Currencies ending in -a or -e are feminine: die Lira (lira), die Krowne (crown).

b) Other exceptions: die Mark (mark), das Pfund (pound).

− Brand name for cars and trains.

 der Mercedes (famous German car maker), der ICE (fastest train in Germany)

− Alcoholic beverages.

der Wein (wine), der Wodka (vodka) [BUT: das Bier (beer)]

− Mountains (especially mountain ranges) and lakes.

der Kilimantzaro (Kilimanjaro), der Bodensee (Lake Constance)

BUT: die Alpen (Alps) - plural!

− Many rivers (especially outside Europe).

der Amazonas (Amazon), der Nil (Nile)

NOTE: Rivers are either masculine or feminine - never neuter.

− Six chemical elements [four of them (the basic atmosphairic elements and carbon) ending
in -stoff]:

der Wasserstoff (hydrogen), der Sauerstoff (oxygen), der Stickstoff (nitrogen), der
Kohlenstoff (carbon), der Phosphor (phosphorus), der Schwefel (sulfur).

NOTE: All the other chemical elements are neuter - many of them ending in -ium.

− Some countries (usually Muslim countries):

der Irak (Iraq), der Iran (Iran), der Oman (Oman), der Sudan (Sudan), der Jemen
(Yemen), der Libanon (Lebanon), der Kongo (Congo)

NOTE: Most countries are neuter and are used without article.

− Nouns that are derived from verb stems without ending.

der Ruf (telephone call) - derived from the verb anrufen (to call)

der Kauf (purchase) - derived from the verb kaufen (to buy)

BUT: Many exceptions - for example, the noun das Spiel (game), derived from the
verb spielen (to play).

NOTES

a) Usually monosyllabic nouns.

b) Nouns derived from verb stems and ending with the suffix -t or -ung are feminine (but
of course, those with the suffix -ung are not monosyllabic):

die Fahrt (trip) - derived from the verb fahren (to drive)

die Wohnung (appartment, flat) - derived from the verb wohnen (to live, to
reside)
 BUT: If the ending -ung is not a suffix but a part of the stem, the noun is masculine:

der Sprung (jump) - derived from the verb springen (to jump)

− Many monosyllabic nouns:

der Tag (day), der Kopf (head), der Zug (train)

BUT: Many exceptions - die Uhr (clock), die Tür (door), die Stadt (city); das Haus
(house), das Wort (word), das Buch (book).

− Five nouns ending in -ee:

der Kaffee (coffee), der Tee (tea), der Schnee (snow), der Klee (clover), der See (lake)

BUT: die See (sea)

− Most nouns ending in -er: der Zucker (sugar).

NOTES

Usually, these nouns represent male persons (agents and occupations, often derived from
verb stems by adding the suffix -er, as well as nationalities) or tools and instruments (i.e.,
equipment).

der Besucher [male visitor - derived from the verb besuchen (to visit)]

der Techniker (male technician)

der Österreicher (male Austrian)

der Computer (computer), der Wecker (alarm clock) [BUT: das Messer (knife)]

For nouns referring to persons (but not terms for relations), the corresponding feminine
terms are formed by adding the suffix -in (the plural form is -innen). Example: die
Besucherin (female visitor).

EXCEPTIONS

a) Feminine nouns:

1. Female persons: die Mutter (mother), die Tochter (daughter), die Schwester
(sister).

2. Other: die Nummer (number), die Mauer (wall), die Butter (butter).

b) Neuter nouns:

das Zimmer (room), das Fenster (window), das Messer (knife), das Wasser
(water), das Wetter (weater), das Alter (age), das Theater (theater), das
Wunder (miracle, wonder), das Fieber (fever)

− Most nouns ending in -el:

 der Onkel (uncle), der Vogel (bird), der Löffel (spoon)

EXCEPTIONS

a) Feminine nouns: die Kartoffel (potato), die Gabel (fork), die Regel (rule), die Insel
(island), die Formel (formula), die Zwiebel (onion).

b) Neuter nouns: das Mittel (medium), das Kabel (cable), das Kapitel (chapter).

− Most nouns ending in -en (BUT NOT: nominalized infinitives).

der Boden (ground), der Garten (garden), der Wagen (car)

EXCEPTIONS

a) Nominalided infinitives are neuter: das Laufen (running), das Schreiben (writing).

b) Some other neuter nouns [das Leben (life), das Zeichen (sign)] - never feminine
nouns.

− Nouns ending in -mann: der Kaufmann (businessman).

NOTE: These nouns denote male professionals. The corresponding feminine terms are
formed by replacing that suffix with the suffix -frau: die Kauffrau (businesswoman).

− Nouns ending in -ich, -ig, -ling:

der Tepich (carpet), der Honig (honey), der Lehrling (apprentice)

− Nouns ending in -aum, -ang, -und:

der Baum (tree), der Gang (walk), der Grund (reason)

− Most nouns ending in -m, -pf, consonant + s, -tz.

der Film (film), der Kopf (head), der Schlips (tie), der Fuchs (fox), der Sitz (seat)

BUT: das Gesetz (law)

− Nouns formed with the foreign suffixes:

-and / -end: der Doktorand (male PhD student), der Promovend (male PhD
candidate)

-ant / -ent: der Demonstrant (male protester), der Student (male student)

BUT: das Talent (talent)

-at / -et / -it: der Soldat (male soldier), der Asket (male ascetic), der Israelit (male
Israelit) [BUT: das Plakat (poster), das Dynamit (dynamite)]

-all: der Ball (ball) [BUT: die Nachtigall (nightgale), das Intervall (interval)]
 -eur / -ör: der Friseur / der Frisör (male hairdresser) [Typical suffix for male
professionals]

-ier / -iker: der Offizier (male officer), der Mechaniker (male mechanic)

BUT: das Papier (paper), das Bier (beer)

-ast / -ist: der Gymnasiast (male high-school student), der Polizist (policeman)

-ismus / -mus / -us: der Realismus (realism) / der Rhythmus (rhythm) / der Kasus
(grammatical case)

BUT: das Genus (genus, grammatical gender), das / der Virus (virus)

-ar / -är: der Kommissar (male inspector), der Millionär (male millionaire)

BUT: das Vocabular (vocabulary), das Salär (salary)

-or: der Direktor (male director)

-loge: der Psychologe (male phychologist)

NOTES

a) Most of these nouns refer to male persons (agents and professionals), and some refer
to absrtact concepts or concrete objects.

b) For nouns referring to persons, the correponding feminine terms are formed by adding
the suffix -in (the plural form is -innen). Examples: die Studentin (female student),
die Polizistin (policewoman).

c) Some of these suffixes are "masculine" only when rereffing to persons. Otherwise they
are "neuter". These suffixes are: -ent, -at / -it, -ier, -ar / -är. Exceptions: If the noun
is masculine due to semantic reasons [der Granit (granite) - a type of rock]

d) Most of these nouns are borrowed words from foreign languages. They resemble -
others in greater and others in less extent - their Engish, French, Greek or Latin
counterpart, and they are often stressed at the last syllable.

− Few nouns ending in -e.

a) Most of them denote male persons or animals:

der Junge (boy), der Kunde (male customer), der Philologe (male philologist),
der Deutsche (male German), der Jude (jew), der Löwe (lion)

For most of them the correponding feminine terms are formed by adding the suffix -in
(the plural form is -innen): die Kundin (female customer)

BUT: die Deutsche (female German), das Mädchen (girl)

b) Some of them denote objects or abstract concepts:

 der Käse (cheese), der Charme (charm), der Name (name), der Gedanke
(thought), der Glaube (belief), der Friede (peace)

NOTE: Most nouns ending in -e are feminine.

FEMININE NOUNS
− Female persons [including agents (persons who do something), and terms for relations,
occupations, nationalities, and religions].

die Frau (woman), die Rednerin (female speaker), die Tante (aunt), die Professorin
(female professor), die Italienerin (female Italian), die Christin (female Christian)

− Female domestic or "commonly-known" animals.

die Katze (cat), die Kuh (cow).

− Some generic terms for animals that include both sexes:

die Maus (mouse), die Schlange (snake)

− Cardinal numbers used as nouns:

die Eins (one), die Million (million)

BUT: das Dutzend (dozen), das Hundert (hundred), das Tausend (thousand)

− Most trees, flowers, and fruits:

die Eiche (oak) [BUT: der Ahorn (maple), der Apfelbaum (apple tree)]

die Rose (rose)

die Banane (banana)

BUT: der Apfel (apple), der Pfirsich (peach), das Ananas (pinepple)

− Names of ships, aeroplanes, and motorbikes:

die Titanic (famous ship), die Boeing (fames aeroplane maker), die BMW (famous car
and motorbike maker - here, the motorbike; the car is der BMW)

BUT: der Airbus (another famous aeroplane maker)

− Printing techniques and fonts:

die Antiqua (a printing technique), die Verdana (a printing font)

− Cigarettes and cigars:

die Marlboro (a brand of cigarettes), die Havanna (a brand of cigars)

− Many rivers:

a) German rivers: die Elbe, die Donau (Danube), die Oder

BUT: der Rhein (Rhine), der Neckar, der Main

 b) Rivers outside Germany (usually European) ending in -a or -e: die Wolga (Volga).

− Some countries:

a) Republics: die Tschechiche Republik (Czech Republik), die Budesrepublik

Deutschland (Federal Repubic of Germany) [Because it is die Republik (republic)]

b) Countries ending in -ei: die Slowakei (Slovakia), die Türkei (Turkey)

c) Countries ending in -ie: die Normandie (Normandy)

d) Countries ending in -e: die Ukraine (Ukraine)

e) Other: die Schweiz (Switzerland), die (Ant)Arktis [(Ant)Arctic]

NOTES

a) Countries in plural:

die Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika / die USA (United States of America / USA)

die Niederlanden (Netherlands)

die Philippinen (Philippines)

b) Other "feminine" geographical locations (not countries): die Sahara (Sahara desert),
die Karibik (Carribean) - because most nouns ending in -a or -ik are feminine.

− Nouns that denote female persons (agents, occupations, nationalities and religions) and
some female animals and formed with the suffix -in (the plural form is -innen):

die Schülerin (female scholar), die Ärztin (female doctor), die Ameikanerin (female
American), die Jüdin (jewess), die Bärin (female bear)

Usually, if we drop the suffix -in we get the corresponding masculine term. Example: der
Amerikaner (male American). BUT: der Arzt (male doctor), der Jude (jew).

EXCEPTIONS

a) Nouns that don't denote female persons. In that case, the suffix -in is a foreign suffix,
and these nouns are neuter. They usually denote substances, medicines or drugs: das
Benzin (gasoline, petrol), das Aspirin (aspirin), das Koffein (caffeine), das Nikotin
(nicotine), das Kokain (cocaine), das Heroin (heroin). [NOTE: For these words, the
plural form - if any - is NOT -innen.]

b) Other: der Urin (urine), der Harlekin (harlequin).

− Nouns formed with the suffix -frau: die Bürokauffrau (female office clerk).

NOTE: These nouns denote female professionals. The corresponding masculine terms are
formed by replacing that suffix with the suffix -mann: der Bürokaufmann (male office
clerk).
− Nouns formed with the following suffixes:

-ei: die Partei (political party) [BUT: der Papagei (parrot), das Ei (Egg)]

-heit / -keit: die Schönheit (beauty) / die Schnelligkeit (speed / quickness)

[Nouns derived from adjectives]

-kunft: die Zukunft (future)

-schaft: die Wirtschaft (economy) [Collective terms]

-ung: die Erzählung (narration) [Nouns derived from verbs]

− Nouns derived from verbs formed with the suffix -t:

die Fahrt (trip), die Handschrift (handwritting), die Flucht (escape)

BUT: der Dienst (service), der Durst (thirst), der Halt (stop)

NOTES

a) Usually monosyllabic nouns derived from verb stems. For example, the noun die Fahrt
(trip) is derived from the fahren (to drive) with stem fahr-, by adding the suffix -t.

b) The ending -t must be a suffix for the noun to be feminine, not a part of the stem. So,
for example, we have "das Angebot" (offer) because this noun is derived from the
verb anbieten (to offer) which includes -t in the stem.

− Most nouns, usually monosyllabic, ending in -cht:

die Nacht (night), die Macht (power), die Pflicht (duty)

BUT: das Recht (law), das Licht (light)

NOTE: Polysyllabic nouns ending in -icht tend to be neuter: das Gedicht (poem), das
Gericht (court), das Gesicht (face), das Gewicht (weight). BUT: der Bericht (report),
die Nachricht (message).

− Nouns formed with the following foreign suffixes:

-a: die Kamera (camera), die Villa (villa) [BUT: das Sofa (sofa, couch)]

NOTE: Most nouns ending in -ma are neuter: das Thema (topic), das Klima
(climate). Exception: die Firma (company).

-ade, -age: die Schokolade (chocolate), die Courage (courage)

BUT: der Nomade (nomad)

-anz, -enz: die Toleranz (tolerance), die Intelligenz (intelligence)

-ette, -elle: die Serviette (napkin), die Frikadelle (meatball) [-ette: Often diminutives]
 -aille, -ille: die Medaille (medal), die Pastille (pastille)

-aise / -äse: die Majonaise / die Majonäse (mayonaise)

-ess, -esse, -isse: die Prinzess (princess), die Delikatesse (delicacy), die Hornisse
(hornet) [BUT: das Interesse (interest)]

-euse: die Masseuse (masseuse)

-ance: die Renaissance (Renaissance)

- äne: die Quarantäne (Quarantine)

-ie: die Theorie (theory)

-ek, -eke: die Diskothek (discotheque), die Apotheke (pharmacy)

-ik: die Musik (music)

BUT: der Atlantik (Atlantik), der Pazifik (Pacific) because it is "der Ozean (ocean)"

-tion, -sion: die Nation (nation), die Illusion (illusion)

NOTE: Nouns ending in -ion are not necessarily feminine: der Lampion (lantern), der
Spion (spy), das Stadion (stadium). Moreover, nouns ending in -on are neuter: das
Analogon (analogue).

-ität: die Qualität (quality), die Universität (university)

-sis / -se: die Basis / die Base (basis, base), die Skepsis (skepticism)

-itis / -ose: die Gastritis (gastritis), die Neurose (neurosis)

[Usually scientific or medical terms]

-ine / -ive: die Maschine (machine), die Initiative (initiative)

-(i)ere: die Voliere (aviary), die Bonboniere (Bonbonnière)

-ur / -üre: die Natur (nature), die Brochüre (brochure)

BUT: das Abitur (abitur), das Futur (future tense), der Purpur (purple)

NOTES

Most of these nouns are borrowed words from foreign languages. They resemble -
others in greater and others in less extent - their Engish, French, Greek or Latin
counterpart, and they are often stressed at the last syllable.

− Most nouns ending in -e:

die Dame (lady) die Katze (cat) die Ecke (corner) die Decke (ceiling)
die Grenze (border) die Karte (card / map) die Blume (flower) die Straße (street)

die Kirche (chairch) die Jacke (jacket) die Tasse (cup) die Flasche (bottle)

die Frage (question) die Farbe (color) die Seite (page) die Liebe (love)

NOTES

a) Usually, these nouns have two syllables, but not always: die Gemeinde (community),
die Geschichte (history).

b) Most often they denote inanimate entities (abstract concepts or objects).

EXCEPTIONS

a) Masculine nouns:

1. Nouns referring to male persons and animals: der Franzose (Frenchman),

der Affe (ape).

2. The following nouns referring to inanimate entities: der Käse (cheese), der
Charme (charm), der Name (name), der Gedanke (thought), der Friende
(peace).

b) Neuter nouns:

1. Some collective nouns starting with the prefix Ge-: das Gebirge
(mountains), das Gerede (gossip), das Gebäude (building), das Gehäuse
(housing), das Gefüge (structure), das Gemüse (vegetables), das Gewerbe
(commerical).

NOTE: These nouns have more than two syllables due to the prefix Ge-.

2. The following nouns: das Auge (eye), das Ende (end), das Erbe (heritage),
das Interesse (interest), das Image (image), das Ensemble (ensemble).
NEUTER NOUNS (das)
− The following nouns referring to persons:

das Weib (wife), das Mannequin (mannequin)

− Nouns referring to children:

das Baby (baby), das Kind (child) [BUT: der Junge (boy)]

− Nouns referring to young domestic animals:

das Lamm (lamb), das Kalb (calf)

− Some generic terms for animals that include both sexes:

das Pferd (horse), das Wiesel (weisel)

− Colors:

das Gelb (yellow), das Grün (green), [BUT: der Purpur (purple)]

− Fractions:

das Drittel (1/3), das Viertel (1/4 [BUT: die Hälfte (1/2, half)]

− Numbers when they indicate a set (of people, years, etc.):

das Duo (duet), das Jahrzehnt (decade)

− Physical units, music notes, and letters of the alphabet:

das Kilowatt (kilowatt) [BUT: der Kilometer (kilometer), der/das Liter (liter)]

das Ges (G sharp)

das Ypsilon (ypsilon)

− Languages:

das Deutsch(e) (German), das Russisch(e) (Russian)

− Particles, most metals and chemical elements, medicines:

das Atom (atom)

das Silber (silver) [BUT: der Stahl (steel), die Bronze (bronze)]

das Chlor (chlorine) [BUT: der Sauerstoff (oxygen), der Wasserstoff (hydrogen)]

das Paraketamol (paracetamol)

− Detergents and cleaning products:

 das Persil (a cleaning product for the washing maschine), das Fairy (a cleaning product
for the dishes)

− Most names of hotels, cafes, cinemas and theaters:

das Hilton (a hotel), das Schauspielhaus (a theater), das Hofbräuhaus (a restaurant in

Munich)

− Continents, most countries, and cities:

das Europa (Europe), das Russland (Russia), das Wien (Vienna)

BUT: der Iran (Iran), die Türkey (Turkey), die USA (USA - plural)

− Many monosyllabic nouns which are not derived from verbs:

das Bild (picture) das Bett (bed) das Buch (book)

das Ei (egg) das Geld (money) das Glas (glass)

das Kleid (dress) das Land (country) das Lied (song)

das Schloss (castle) das Volk (people) das Wort (word)

BUT: der Tag (day), der Zug (train), ...; die Stadt (city), die Uhr (clock), …

− Nominalized infinitives, adjectives, and participles, as well as all words that are from
other parts of speech and are used as nouns but do not signify people:

das Lernen (learning), das Schöne (beauty), das Verbotene (forbidden), das A und das
O (the alpha and omega)

− Diminutives formed with the suffix -chen or -lein:

das Mädchen (girl), das Kätzchen (kitten), das Brötchen (bread roll)

das Fräulein (young woman), das Büchlein (booklet)

− Nouns with the prefix Ge-:

das Gebirge (mountains) das Gerede (gossip) das Gemüse (vegetables)

das Gebäude (building) das Gehäuse (housing) das Gefüge (structure)

das Gebäck (biscuits, pastries) das Geschäft (business) das Gespräch (conversation)

das Getränk (drink) das Gerät (device) das Geschlecht (sex / gender)
 das Geschenk (gift) das Gedicht (poem) das Gericht (court)

das Gesicht (face) das Gewicht (weight) das Gerücht (rumor)

das Geheimnis (secret) das Gedächtnis (memory) das Gewissen (conscience)

das Gefühl (feeling) das Geschirr (dishes) das Gesetz (law)

NOTE: These nouns are usually collective terms.

EXCEPTIONS

der Gedanke (idea, thought) der Gebrauch (use) der Gewinn (profit / prize)

der Gesang (singing, song) der Geschmack (taste) der Genuss (pleasure)

der Geruch (smell) der Gestank (stink) die Gemeinde (community)

die Geschichte (history) die Gebühr (charge, fee) die Geburt (birth)

die Geduld (patience) die Gewallt (violence) die Gestalt (shape)

die Gefahr (danger)

− Nouns formed with the suffix -nis:

das Ereignis (event) das Ergebnis (result) das Erlebnis (experience)

das Ärgernis (offence) das Geständnis (confession) das Geheimnis (secret)

das Verhältnis (relationship) das Zeugnis (witness)

EXCEPTIONS: die Erlaubnis (permission), die Erkenntnis (insight, understanding), die

Kenntnis (knowledge).

− Nouns formed with the suffixes:

-icht: das Dickicht (thicket) [BUT: der Bericht (report), die Nachricht (message)]

NOTE: Usually polysyllabic nouns.

-sel: das Rätsel (puzzle)

-tum: das Eigentum (property, ownership)

 BUT: der Reichtum (wealth), der Irrtum (error)

− Nouns that don't refer to persons and formed with the foreign suffix -in:

das Aspirin (aspirin), das Benzin (gasoline, petrol), das Koffein (coffeine), das
Nikotin (nicotine), das Kokain (cocaine), das Heroin (heroin) [BUT: der Urin (urine)]

− Nouns formed with the foreign suffixes:

-al: das Journal (journal)

BUT: der Kanal (canal, channel), der General (general), der Skandal (scandal), die
Moral (moral)

-ett, -ell: das Ballett (ballet), das Duell (duel)

-tel: das Viertel (quarter)

-il: das Ventil (valve)

-ol, -om: das Äthanol (ethanol), das Syndrom (syndrome)

-ing: das Doping (doping) [English gerunds!]

-ma: das Drama (drama) [BUT: die Firma (company)]

-em: das Problem (problem)

-it: das Dynamit (dynamite)

BUT: der Profit (profit), because the equivalent German word is der Gewinn; der
Granit (granite), because it is a rock

-arium / -um: das Aquarium (aquarium), das Zentrum (centre)

BUT: der Konsum (consumption)

-ment: das Dokument (document) [BUT: der Zement (cement)]

-fon / -phon: das Telefon / das Telephon (telephone)

-o: das Büro (office), das Kino (cinema), das Kasino (casino), das Auto (car), das
Radio (radio), das Video (video), das Veto (veto)

NOTE: Neuter nouns ending in -o are usually words derived from Latin.

EXCEPTIONS

a) Words that don't derive from Latin: die Avocado (avocado).

b) Words that belong to a non-neuter semantic group: der Euro (type of currency), der
Scirocco (type of wind).
 c) Other semantic reasons: der Tango (tango), because it is der Tanz (dance); der
Espresso (espresso), because it is der Kaffee (coffee); der Zoo (zoo), because the
equivalent German word is der Tiergarten or der Tierpark.

d) Short terms for non-neuter nouns: die Limo, short for die Limonade (lemonade).

NOTES

Most of these nouns are borrowed words from foreign languages. They resemble - others
in greater and others in less extent - their Engish, French, Greek or Latin counterpart, and
they are often stressed at the last syllable.

− Nouns that denote inanimate entities, formed with the foreign suffixes:

-ent: das Talent (talent) [BUT: der Kontinent (continent), der Akzent (accent, stress)]

-at: das Plakat (poster)

-it: das Dynamit (dynamite) [BUT: der Granit (granite) - type of rock]

-ier: das Bier (beer)

-ar: das Vocabular (vocabulary)

-är: das Militär (military)

NOTES

Most of these nouns are borrowed words from foreign languages. They resemble - others
in greater and others in less extent - their Engish, French, Greek or Latin counterpart, and
they are often stressed at the last syllable.

EXCEPTIONS

If nouns formed with the above suffixes denote persons, the nouns are masculine:

-at: der Soldat (male soldier)

-it: der Israelit (male Israelit)

-ier: der Offizier (male officer)

-ar: der Kommissar (male inspector)

-är: der Millionär (male millionaire)

GENDER OF COMPOUND NOUNS AND ABBREVIATIONS
The compound nouns has the gender of the last element, which is always a noun:

die Arbeit (work) + der Platz (position) = der Arbeitsplatz (work place / work
position)

das Geschäft (business) + die Reise (travel) = die Geschäftsreise (businesstrip)

die Woche (week) + das Ende (end) = das Wochenende (weekend)

The gender of abbreviations is usually the same as that of the word they stand for:

der PC der Personalcomputer

der VW der Volkswagen

die Uni die Universität

GENDER OF FOREIGN / BORROWED WORDS

The gender of foreign words is determined with several ways.

− Some words take the same gender with the equivalent German word:

der Airport ↔ der Flughafen

das Bike ↔ das Fahrrad

der Shop ↔ der Laden

− Some words take the gender indicated by their ending:

der Computer (masculine, like almost any tool or instrument ending in -er),
die City (the Engish suffix -y equals to the German suffix -ie, which is a
"feminine" suffix)

− Other words take the gender indicated by their semantic group:

das Marihuana like das Kokain, das Heroin (drugs are neuter)

− Finally, some words keep the same gender with the one they have in their language.

der Cappuccino (It., il: masculine), der Bulevard (Fr., le: masculine)

NOTE: Monosyllabic nouns derived from foreign verbs are often masculine: der Look, der
Talk.