Compound Nouns

Level 4

Join two nouns into one word. The last part is the main noun and gives the gender: d'Kichen (f) + den Dësch (m) → de Kichendësch (the kitchen table).

How It Works

1. One word
Compounds are written together, with a capital letter only at the start:

  • d'Haus + d'Dier → d'Hausdier (front door)
  • de Kaffi + d'Taass → d'Kaffistaass (coffee cup, with a linking s)
  • d'Schoul + d'Buch → d'Schoulbuch (school book)

2. The last part decides
The gender and the plural come from the last noun:

  • d'Kichen (f) + den Dësch (m) → de Kichendësch (m), plural d'Kichendëscher
  • de Schlof (m) + d'Kummer (f) → d'Schlofkummer (f, bedroom)
  • d'Gebuert (f) + den Dag (m) → de Gebuertsdag (m), plural d'Gebuertsdeeg

3. Linking -s-
Many compounds add -s- between the parts: Gebuertsdag (birthday), Aarbechtsplaz (workplace), Aarbechtsgrupp (working group). Nouns in -ung and -heet nearly always take it: Zeitungsartikel, Gesondheetsministère.

4. Linking -en-
Some compounds add -en-, which follows the n-rule: Zoppeläffel (ladle) but Zoppenteller (soup plate). See n-rule in compounds.

5. Verb or adjective first
The first part can also be a verb stem or an adjective: Schreifdësch (desk), Héichhaus (high-rise).

6. Hyphens
Use a hyphen when a compound is very long or contains an abbreviation: en USB-Stick, en CD-Lafwierk. Place-name adjectives in -er stay separate: d'Lëtzebuerger Strooss (see place-name adjectives in -er).

Examples (6)

  1. D'Hausdier ass zou.

    The front door is closed.

    Haus + Dier; Dier is feminine, so the compound is feminine.

  2. Ech hunn en neie Kichendësch kaaft.

    I bought a new kitchen table.

    Kichen is feminine, but Dësch is masculine, so the compound takes the masculine ending neie(n).

  3. Wéini ass däi Gebuertsdag?

    When is your birthday?

    Gebuert + linking -s- + Dag.

  4. Eis Schlofkummer ass um éischte Stack.

    Our bedroom is on the first floor.

  5. D'Hänk vun der Kaffistaass ass ofgebrach.

    The handle of the coffee cup has broken off.

    Kaffi is masculine, but Taass is feminine, so it is der Kaffistaass.

  6. Gëff mir wannechgelift den Zoppeläffel.

    Please pass me the ladle.

    Zopp + linking -en- + Läffel; the n drops before L.

Common Mistakes

  • Taking the gender from the first part.

    D'Kichendësch ass ze kleng.
    De Kichendësch ass ze kleng.

    The last part, Dësch, is masculine, so the whole compound is masculine.

  • Writing the compound as two words.

    D'Haus Dier ass zou.
    D'Hausdier ass zou.

    Two nouns that form one compound are written together as one word.

  • Leaving out the linking -s-.

    Wéini ass däi Gebuertdag?
    Wéini ass däi Gebuertsdag?

    Gebuertsdag needs the linking -s-. The dictionary shows which compounds have it.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Compound NounsLevel 4

Learn This First

Before Compound Nouns, learn Three Noun Genders.