German N-Deklination (N-Declension) — Rules, Chart & Examples

German N-Deklination: The N-Deklination (N-declension) is a German grammar rule where certain masculine nouns add -n or -en in every case except the nominative singular. It mainly affects nouns ending in -e (der Junge → den Jungen) and nouns with Latin or Greek suffixes like -ist, -ent, -ant, -oge (der Student → den Studenten).

The tricky part: these nouns don’t follow the normal declension rules — and forgetting the -n ending is one of the most common grammar mistakes in German exams. Keep reading for the full rules, chart, and a free quiz.

Most masculine nouns in German don’t change form in the accusative or dative. But N-Deklination nouns are different — they add -n or -en in every case except the nominative singular. If you’ve ever said “Ich sehe den Student” instead of “den Studenten,” this article is for you. This guide covers the complete rules, a clear chart, example sentences for every pattern, the most common mistakes, and shortcuts to remember which nouns are affected. For the general overview of how German cases work, see our Cases guide first.

What is the N-Deklination?

In standard German declension, masculine nouns stay the same in the accusative and dative — only the article changes (der Mann → den Mann → dem Mann). But N-Deklination nouns also change the noun itself by adding -n or -en: The ending is the same (-n or -en) in the accusative, dative, genitive, AND all plural forms. Only the nominative singular has no ending.

N-Deklination Chart

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	der Junge	die Jungen
Genitive	des Jungen	der Jungen
Dative	dem Jungen	den Jungen
Accusative	den Jungen	die Jungen

Which Nouns Follow the N-Deklination?

N-Deklination only applies to masculine nouns. Here are the patterns to recognize them. If you’re unsure about the gender of a noun, check the German Article Rules for gender prediction patterns.

Pattern	Examples
Masculine nouns ending in -e (people, animals)	der Junge, der Kollege, der Kunde, der Löwe, der Affe, der Hase, der Neffe, der Rabe
Nouns ending in -and	der Proband, der Doktorand
Nouns ending in -ant	der Praktikant, der Demonstrant, der Kommandant, der Repräsentant
Nouns ending in -ent	der Student, der Patient, der Präsident, der Dozent, der Assistent
Nouns ending in -oge	der Biologe, der Psychologe, der Geologe, der Kardiologe, der Neurologe
Nouns ending in -ad	der Kamerad
Nouns ending in -at	der Soldat, der Bürokrat, der Kandidat, der Akrobat
Nouns ending in -ist	der Journalist, der Tourist, der Pianist, der Florist, der Aktivist
Common exceptions (irregular)	der Herr, der Nachbar, der Bauer, der Bär, der Held, der Mensch, der Pilot, der Prinz, der Fotograf, der Architekt

Example Sentences

Each example shows the N-Deklination noun in a case other than nominative — where the -n/-en ending is required.

Pattern	Example	Translation
-e (person)	Du bekommst den Brief von dem Postboten.	You get the letter from the postman.
-e (animal)	Die Federn des Raben sind schwarz.	The raven’s feathers are black.
-and	Der Forscher spricht mit dem Probanden.	The researcher speaks with the test subject.
-ant	Die Arbeit des Praktikanten ist langweilig.	The intern’s work is boring.
-ent	Der Arzt behandelt den Patienten.	The doctor treats the patient.
-oge	Die Praxis des Psychologen ist sehr groß.	The psychologist’s office is very large.
-ad	Der Mann denkt an seinen Kameraden.	The man thinks of his comrade.
-at	Die Frau wartet auf den Soldaten.	The woman waits for the soldier.
-ist	Ich lese den Artikel des Journalisten.	I read the journalist’s article.
Exception	Die Bilder des Fotografen sind sehr schön.	The photographer’s pictures are very beautiful.

For more on how accusative, dative, and genitive work in general, see: Accusative Case, Dative Case, Genitive Case.

Special Case: “Das Herz”

You may see “das Herz” listed under N-Deklination in textbooks. It is a Sonderform (special form) that is sometimes grouped with N-Deklination nouns — but it should be learned as a separate exception. Why? Because it’s neuter (not masculine), and its genitive adds -ens (not just -en):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	das Herz	die Herzen
Genitive	des Herzens	der Herzen
Dative	dem Herzen	den Herzen
Accusative	das Herz	die Herzen

How to Remember the N-Deklination

Test Yourself: 5 Quick Questions

For each sentence, decide: does the noun need -n, -en, or nothing added?

Want more practice? Try the full N-Deklination Quiz with more questions — or explore all grammar quizzes.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Wrong: Ich sehe den Student.

✅ Correct: Ich sehe den Studenten.

💡 Why: “Student” is an N-Deklination noun (suffix -ent). In the accusative, it must add -en. Forgetting the ending is the #1 N-Deklination mistake.

❌ Wrong: Sie hilft dem Patient.

✅ Correct: Sie hilft dem Patienten.

💡 Why: “Helfen” takes the dative. “Patient” is N-Deklination (-ent) → dative = dem Patienten. The -en ending is mandatory in every case except nominative singular.

❌ Wrong: Die Arbeit des Studentes ist gut.

✅ Correct: Die Arbeit des Studenten ist gut.

💡 Why: Normal masculine nouns add -(e)s in the genitive (des Mannes). But N-Deklination nouns add -en instead — never -(e)s. This is a very common exam mistake.

❌ Wrong: Die Student sind in der Bibliothek.

✅ Correct: Die Studenten sind in der Bibliothek.

💡 Why: N-Deklination nouns need -n/-en in ALL plural forms — including the nominative plural. “Die Student” doesn’t exist. It’s always “die Studenten.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the N-Deklination in German?

The N-Deklination (N-declension) is a declension pattern where certain masculine nouns add -n or -en to the noun itself in the accusative, dative, and genitive cases — and in all plural forms. Only the nominative singular stays unchanged. It mainly affects masculine nouns ending in -e, and nouns with Latin/Greek suffixes like -ist, -ent, -ant, -oge, -at.

What is the difference between N-Deklination and normal declension?

In normal declension, masculine nouns don’t change in the accusative or dative — only the article changes (der Mann → den Mann → dem Mann). In N-Deklination, the noun itself changes too: der Student → den Studenten → dem Studenten. Normal masculine nouns also add -(e)s in the genitive (des Mannes), while N-Deklination nouns add -en (des Studenten).

Which endings indicate an N-Deklination noun?

The most common endings are: -e (der Junge, der Kollege, der Löwe), -ist (der Tourist, der Journalist), -ent (der Student, der Patient), -ant (der Praktikant), -oge (der Biologe, der Psychologe), -at (der Soldat, der Kandidat), -ad (der Kamerad), and -and (der Doktorand). These are almost always professions, nationalities, or academic titles.

Do N-Deklination nouns add -(e)s in the genitive?

No. This is one of the most common mistakes. Normal masculine nouns add -(e)s in the genitive: “des Mannes.” But N-Deklination nouns add -en instead: “des Studenten” — never “des Studentes.” The -en ending replaces the -(e)s completely.

Does N-Deklination affect adjective endings?

No — N-Deklination changes the noun, not the adjective. Adjective endings follow their own rules based on the article type (definite, indefinite, no article). So “den jungen Studenten” has a normal adjective ending (-en after definite article in accusative) plus the N-Deklination noun ending (-en on Studenten). They happen independently.

Is “der Herr” an N-Deklination noun?

Yes, but it’s slightly irregular. In the singular, “Herr” adds only -n (den Herrn, dem Herrn, des Herrn). In the plural, it adds -en (die Herren). Most other exceptions like “der Nachbar” and “der Bauer” add -n in all non-nominative forms: den Nachbarn, dem Nachbarn, des Nachbarn.

Is “das Herz” an N-Deklination noun?

Not exactly. “Das Herz” is sometimes listed under N-Deklination in textbooks, but it’s better to learn it as a separate irregular noun. It’s neuter (not masculine), its genitive form is “des Herzens” (not “des Herzen”), and the accusative singular doesn’t change (“das Herz,” not “das Herzen”). It shares some features with N-Deklination but breaks too many rules to fit the pattern.