Nouns Are Capitalized
Unlike English, where only proper names and sentence starters are capitalized, German capitalizes all nouns. This includes common objects like 'table' (der Tisch) or 'bread' (das Brot).
How It Works
German orthography requires the first letter of every noun to be capitalized. While this is the strict rule for formal and professional writing, you may see it ignored in informal texting or social media.
1. Common Nouns: All objects, people, and concepts are capitalized.
Example: Der Mann isst einen Apfel.
2. Nominalization Triggers: Words like verbs or adjectives become nouns and must be capitalized when they follow articles, prepositions, or indefinite pronouns like etwas.
Example: Ich möchte etwas Neues essen. (I want to eat something new.)
3. Pronouns: The formal 'you' (Sie) is always capitalized to distinguish it from 'she' or 'they'. In personal letters and emails, you may also optionally capitalize the informal 'you' (Du or Ihr) as a sign of courtesy. The word for 'I' (ich) is not capitalized unless it starts a sentence.
4. Languages vs. Nationalities: Languages used as nouns are capitalized (Ich lerne Deutsch), but nationality adjectives are lowercase (Das ist ein deutsches Auto).
Examples (4)
- Ich habe einen Hund und eine Katze.
I have a dog and a cat.
Word by Word: I have a dog and a cat.
Notice that 'Hund' (dog) and 'Katze' (cat) are capitalized even though they are common nouns in the middle of the sentence.
- Das Essen in diesem Restaurant ist sehr gut.
The food in this restaurant is very good.
Word by Word: The food in this restaurant is very good.
'Essen' (food) and 'Restaurant' are both nouns and must be capitalized.
- Wir wünschen Ihnen alles Gute zum Geburtstag.
We wish you all the best for your birthday.
Word by Word: We wish you all good to-the birthday.
'Gute' is an adjective turned into a noun (nominalized), and 'Geburtstag' is a standard noun.
- Der Tisch ist aus Holz.
The table is made of wood.
Word by Word: The table is out-of wood.
Even simple materials like 'Holz' (wood) are capitalized.
Common Mistakes
Capitalizing nationality adjectives like 'deutsch' or 'englisch'.
Ich spreche die Deutsche Sprache.Ich spreche die deutsche Sprache.Adjectives describing nationality are lowercase. However, if you use the language as a noun (e.g., 'Ich lerne Deutsch'), it must be capitalized.
Confusing the formal 'you' (Sie) with 'she' or 'they' (sie).
Können sie mir helfen?Können Sie mir helfen?Capitalizing Sie is essential to distinguish the formal 'you' from 'she' or 'they' in writing.
Capitalizing time adverbs like 'montags' or 'abends'.
Ich arbeite Montags.Ich arbeite montags.While days of the week are nouns (der Montag), adding an 's' often turns them into adverbs, which are not capitalized.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- Noun Gender
Every capitalized noun also has a specific gender (der, die, or das) that you must learn alongside it.
Level 1 - Nominalized Infinitive
This explains how verbs become nouns and why they require capitalization in that role.
Level 3 - Gender Of Compound Nouns
German often combines nouns into long words; these compound nouns are also always capitalized.
Level 3 - wir/ihr/sie/SiePersonal Pronouns Plural and Formal
The formal 'Sie' is one of the few non-noun words that is always capitalized.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice Nouns Are Capitalized in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes German lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
