The N-Rule With Names and Places

Level 5

People and brands keep their n: De Ruben muss éischter goen. Countries and regions in -en follow the n-rule: an Italie fueren. Towns can do either: zu Lëntge or zu Lëntgen.

How It Works

1. People and brands: the n stays
At the end of a first name, family name or brand name, the n always stays, whatever comes next:

  • De Ruben muss éischter goen.
  • D'Madamm Rinnen kënnt méi spéit.

When a family name gets an ending, such as the plural for a whole family, the n-rule applies to the ending: Bei Schmitte gëtt geschafft.

2. Countries and regions: the n-rule applies
Geographical names that end in a spoken -en drop the n before a consonant (except d, h, n, t and z):

  • an Italie fueren, but an Italien areesen
  • an Asie wunnen, but sech an Asien auskennen
  • a Schwede reesen: an also loses its n before S.

3. Towns and villages: both are allowed
For the names of places and cities, you may keep the n or drop it: zu Lëntge brennt et or zu Lëntgen brennt et, zu Néngse or zu Néngsen. See In a Town: Zu.

4. When the n always stays

  • If there is no spoken e before the n: Zu Berlin lieft et sech gutt., London war ëmmer d'Haaptstad vun England.
  • If the ending is not said as -en: op Rouen fueren, zu Wien raschten.
  • Before a punctuation mark, as always: Mir fueren an Italien. (see The N Stays Before Punctuation)

Examples (6)

  1. De Ruben muss éischter goen.

    Ruben has to leave earlier.

    A first name keeps its n, even before m.

  2. D'Madamm Rinnen kënnt méi spéit.

    Mrs Rinnen is coming later.

    Family names keep their n too.

  3. Si wëllen an Italie fueren.

    They want to go to Italy.

    Italien drops its n before f, like an ordinary word.

  4. Mir wëlle mam Zuch a Schwede reesen.

    We want to travel to Sweden by train.

    Both an and Schweden lose their n before a consonant.

  5. Zu Néngse schéngt d'Sonn.

    The sun is shining in Neunhausen.

    For towns you may also write zu Néngsen.

  6. Zu Berlin lieft et sech gutt.

    Life is good in Berlin.

    There is no spoken e before the n of Berlin, so it stays.

Common Mistakes

  • Dropping the n of a first name.

    De Rube muss éischter goen.
    De Ruben muss éischter goen.

    Names of people keep their n so that they stay recognizable.

  • Keeping the n of a country before a consonant.

    Si wëllen an Italien fueren.
    Si wëllen an Italie fueren.

    Countries ending in -en follow the n-rule. Only town names give you a choice.

  • Dropping an n that has no spoken e before it.

    Zu Berli lieft et sech gutt.
    Zu Berlin lieft et sech gutt.

    The n-rule only affects a final -en. Berlin ends in -in, so the n stays.

How It Connects

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

The N-Rule With Names and PlacesLevel 5

Learn This First

Before The N-Rule With Names and Places, learn Nouns and Adjectives That Keep Their N and Articles With Names.