The N-Rule (Eifeler Regel)
The n-rule (Eifeler Regel) makes a final n disappear before most consonants, in speech and in writing: den Hond but de Bus. The n stays before a vowel, before d, h, n, t, z, and before a punctuation mark.
How It Works
Which words change? Articles (den, en, keen), pronouns (hien), short words (an, un, vun, schonn), verb forms (kommen, sinn, hunn) and other words ending in -en. Their final n or nn drops before most consonants:
- den Hond but de Bus
- Mir kommen haut but Mir komme muer
- hien ass but hie schafft
- Si hunn en Hond but Si hu Kanner
When does the n stay?
- Before a vowel: den Owend (the evening), en Auto.
- Before d, h, n, t and z: den Dësch, den Hond, den Téi, den Zuch (the train).
- Before a punctuation mark, even when you don't say it: Mir kommen. See n-rule before punctuation.
A handy way to remember the five letters: d, h, n, t, z are the consonants that are said at the same place as n, plus h.
Nouns and adjectives keep their n before any consonant, unless they end in -en: de Mann kënnt, blann sinn. See n-rule nouns and adjectives.
The rule is part of the official spelling, so it is written, not only spoken. Verbs and pronouns follow it too; see n-rule with verbs and pronouns.
Examples (6)
- De Bus kënnt.
The bus is coming.
den becomes de before the B of Bus.
- Den Owend ass laang.
The evening is long.
den keeps its n before a vowel.
- Mir komme muer.
We're coming tomorrow.
kommen drops its n before the m of muer.
- Mir kommen haut.
We're coming today.
kommen keeps its n before h.
- Hie schafft vill.
He works a lot.
hien becomes hie before the s of schafft.
- De Mann kënnt.
The man is coming.
The noun Mann keeps its n. Only the article loses it.
Common Mistakes
Keeping the n before a consonant that drops it.
Mir kommen muer.Mir komme muer.Before m, the n of kommen is dropped in speech and in writing.
Dropping the n before a vowel or before d, h, n, t or z.
Mir komme haut.Mir kommen haut.The n stays before h. It also stays before vowels and before d, n, t and z.
Dropping the n from a noun.
De Ma kënnt.De Mann kënnt.Most nouns keep their n. Only the article den loses it here.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before The N-Rule (Eifeler Regel), learn One Official Spelling.
Related Patterns
- denThe Masculine Article Den
The article den is the most common word that follows the n-rule.
Level 1 - The N-Rule With Verbs and Pronouns
See how verb forms and pronouns lose their n.
Level 2 - Nouns and Adjectives That Keep Their N
Learn which nouns and adjectives keep their n.
Level 4 - The N Stays Before Punctuation
Find out why the n is always written before a comma or full stop.
Level 3 - en / engIndefinite Article: En and Eng
The article en becomes e before most consonants.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice The N-Rule (Eifeler Regel) in Bubblegum
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