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I'm trying to find files or any kind of source for German nouns together with definite article. The goal is to create an app which will use that data and help me with learning.

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    There already is a similar question: List of 1000+ (most common) German nouns with plural form. Link: german.stackexchange.com/questions/7386/…
    – Eugene Str.
    Sep 3, 2016 at 21:45
  • Thanks. I already found this but it's not helpful to me. I'm looking for something huge which will cover almost every word. I'm really not sure if something like that is available..
    – IMujagic
    Sep 3, 2016 at 21:52
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    I would assume that the Wiktionary data is available in source form.
    – Carsten S
    Sep 3, 2016 at 21:55
  • @EugeneStr. Vielen Dank! This will be really good starting point.
    – IMujagic
    Sep 3, 2016 at 22:04

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Grammatical gender and definite article in nominative case singular always match this way:

  • masculine = der
  • feminine = die
  • neuter = das

Every German dictionary contains either the definite article or a gender-note (m/f/n) for every noun.

Take the most famous dictionary »der Duden« for example:

Let's say, you look for the genders (i.e definite articles) of Messer, Gabel, Löffel (knife, fork, spoon):

From the words that I have marked bold and italics, you can learn:

  • Messer = neuter; Article = das (das Messer)
  • Gabel = feminin; Article = die (die Gabel)
  • Löffel = maskulin; Article = der (der Löffel)

But be aware, that there are also words that can be used in two or even all three genders:

So it is:

  • Gummi = masculin or neuter; Article = der, das (der Gummi, das Gummi)
  • Bookmark = neuter, masculin or feminin; Article = das, der, die (das Bookmark, der Bookmark, die Bookmark)

In those examples you can choose which article you want to use. Often there are regional preferences (»Das Gummi« in northern parts of Germany, »der Gummi« in southern parts and in Austria).

But there are also homonyms with different articles

  • Schild (das Schild = tag, plate, sign, label, ...; der Schild = shield)
    http://www.duden.de/suchen/dudenonline/Schild

    Schild

    Substantiv, maskulin - 1. eine Schutzwaffe darstellender, auf seiner …2. Wappenschild; 3. schildförmiger, länglicher Schirm an der …

    ...
    Schild

    Substantiv, Neutrum - 1. Tafel, Platte mit einem Zeichen, …2. Fleck auf der Brust (besonders …

So here you have:

  • Schild = masculin; Article = der (der Schild) (if you mean a shield to protect whatever is behind the shield)
  • Schild = neuter; Article = das (das Schild) (if you mean a label, tag, or something similar where you can write a few words that are representative for the thing on which the label/tag/... is mounted)
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    What makes you think that the OP is not aware of this?
    – Carsten S
    Sep 4, 2016 at 11:55
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    @CarstenS: Nothing. Where did I say that the OP was not aware of this? I just told him (and anybody else who reads this answer) to be aware.
    – Hubert Schölnast
    Sep 4, 2016 at 12:40
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    That's cool. I am going to add an answer later that explains what a file is.
    – Carsten S
    Sep 4, 2016 at 12:44
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    @CarstenS: Fine. Then I will add an addendum to your answer where I explain especially for you what »any kind of source« is.
    – Hubert Schölnast
    Sep 4, 2016 at 12:52
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    This will be great. We will see how much text we can produce without answering the question.
    – Carsten S
    Sep 4, 2016 at 13:24

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