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When German builds long compound nouns, it often uses linking elements (*Fugenlaute*) to make the transition between words easier to pronounce.

Remember the golden rule of German compounds: **the last word always determines the gender and plural form of the entire noun.**

### The "-s-" and "-es-" Link

The most common linking element is *-s-* or *-es-*. You will almost always use an *-s-* when the first noun ends in *-ung*, *-heit*, *-keit*, *-ion*, or *-tät* (e.g., *die Rechnung* + *s* + *der Betrag* = *der Rechnungsbetrag*). Many other common nouns, like *die Arbeit*, *das Gehalt*, or *das Einkommen*, also take an *-s-* when linking.

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### The "-n-" and "-en-" Link

When the first noun in the compound ends in *-e* (especially feminine nouns), you will typically use an *-n-* to glue the words together. For example, *die Spende* (donation) adds an *-n-* before joining with *die Quittung* (receipt) to form *die Spendenquittung*.

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### The "-er-" Link

Sometimes, the linking element mimics the plural form of the first noun. A classic example is *das Kind* (child), which becomes *die Kinder* in the plural. When forming a compound noun, it uses that *-er-* as its link.

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Compound nouns (-s-, -en-, -er-)

adjective

adverb

auxiliary verb

conjunction

determiner

interjection

noun

numeral

particle

preposition

pronoun

sentence

verb

Definite articles and gender (der, die, das)

Indefinite articles (ein, eine)

Regular verbs and statement word order (ich -e, er -t)

The second person (du -st, Sie -en)

Yes/No questions

The verb 'to have' (habe, hast, hat)

Plural pronouns and regular verbs (wir, ihr, sie)

Plural 'to be' and 'to have' (sind, haben)

Plural nouns and the plural article (die)

Sentence negation (nicht)

Noun negation (kein, keine)

Question words (wer, was, wo, wie)

Numbers 0 to 12 (null, eins, zwei)

The accusative case (den, die, das)

Indefinite accusative articles (einen, keinen)

Direct object pronouns (mich, dich, ihn)

There is / there are (es gibt)

Vowel changes: e to i/ie (er spricht, sie liest)

Vowel changes: a to ä (er fährt)

Weather and conditions (es regnet)

First- and second-person possessives in the nominative (mein, dein, Ihr)

First- and second-person possessives in the accusative (meinen, deinen, Ihren)

Third-person and plural possessives (sein, ihr, unser, euer)

Possession with names (Annas Auto)

Demonstrative pronouns (dieser, diese, dieses)

Expressing preference (gern, lieber)

Asking about direction and origin (woher, wohin)

Expressing ability (können)

Polite requests (möchten)

Expressing intention (wollen)

Modal verbs of obligation and permission (müssen, dürfen)

Separable prefix verbs

Adverbs of frequency (immer, oft, manchmal, nie)

The Dative case and definite articles (dem, der, den)

Dative indefinite and negative articles (einem, einer, keinem)

Dative personal pronouns (mir, dir, ihm, ihr...)

Dative verbs (helfen, danken, gefallen, schmecken)

Dative prepositions (aus, bei, mit, nach...)

Accusative prepositions (für, ohne, gegen)

Two-way prepositions for location (in, an, auf...)

Informal singular imperative (mach, komm)

Plural and formal imperative (macht, machen Sie)

Coordinating conjunctions (und, oder, aber, denn)

Simple past of sein and haben (war, hatte)

The perfect tense: regular verbs (gemacht, gespielt)

Past tense: irregular verbs (ge-...-en)

The perfect tense: mixed verbs (gebracht, gekannt)

The perfect tense with sein (ist gegangen)

The perfect tense: separable verbs (eingekauft)

The perfect tense: inseparable and -ieren verbs (besucht, studiert)

Informal singular commands (mach, lern)

Numbers 13 to 20 (dreizehn to zwanzig)

Counting by tens to 100 (dreißig, vierzig)

Telling time (Uhr, halb, Viertel, vor, nach)

Numbers 21 to 99 (einundzwanzig, zweiunddreißig)

Greetings and farewells

Thank you, sorry and good wishes

Everyday replies

Numbers 100 to 1,000,000 (hundert, tausend...)

Becoming and getting (werden)

The impersonal pronoun (man)

Indefinite pronouns (jemand, niemand...)

Time sequence prepositions (vor, nach, bei)

Time span prepositions (von... bis, seit, für)

Adverbs of sequence (zuerst, dann, danach)

Two-way prepositions for direction (in, auf, an...)

Directional adverbs (hin, her)

Placement verbs (setzen, stellen, legen)

Months of the year (Januar, Februar)

The four seasons (Frühling, Sommer)

Time prepositions and indefinite pronouns (an, in, um)

Ordinal numbers 1st to 19th (am ersten)

Ordinals 20th and beyond (-ste, -sten)

Placement vs. location verbs (stellen vs. stehen)

Accusative reflexive pronouns (mich, dich, sich)

Accusative reflexive verbs (sich freuen)

Dative reflexive pronouns (mir, dir, sich)

Dative reflexive verbs (sich etwas merken)

Ordinal numbers 11th to 19th (-te)

Temporal prepositions (an, in, um)

Double objects with nouns

Double objects with pronouns

The modal verb for advice (sollen)

Simple past of modal verbs (musste, wollte...)

Simple past of common irregulars (wurde, wusste, es gab)

Adverbial connectors of consequence (deshalb, darum...)

Subordinate clauses for statements (dass)

Question	Answer
the salary statement	die Gehaltsabrechnung
The salary statement of the employee is missing.	Die Gehaltsabrechnung des Mitarbeiters fehlt.
Did you check the salary statement?	Hast du die Gehaltsabrechnung geprüft?
the study (room)	das Arbeitszimmer
I am working in the study today.	Ich arbeite heute im Arbeitszimmer.
I don't work in the living room, but in the study.	Ich arbeite nicht im Wohnzimmer, sondern im Arbeitszimmer.
the invoice amount	der Rechnungsbetrag
The invoice amount is much lower.	Der Rechnungsbetrag ist viel niedriger.
Please transfer the invoice amount immediately.	Überweisen Sie bitte sofort den Rechnungsbetrag.
the annual financial statement	der Jahresabschluss
The annual financial statement of the company is finished.	Der Jahresabschluss des Unternehmens ist fertig.
We must prepare the annual financial statement.	Wir müssen den Jahresabschluss vorbereiten.
the donation receipt	die Spendenquittung
Do you need a donation receipt for the tax?	Brauchen Sie eine Spendenquittung für die Steuer?
Do you have a donation receipt?	Hast du eine Spendenquittung?
the cash book	das Kassenbuch
You must check the cash book daily.	Du musst das Kassenbuch täglich prüfen.
The cash book is on the desk.	Das Kassenbuch liegt auf dem Schreibtisch.
the child benefit	das Kindergeld
When do we receive the child benefit?	Wann bekommen wir das Kindergeld?
They have applied for the child benefit.	Sie haben das Kindergeld beantragt.
the income limit	die Einkommensgrenze
The income limit is too low.	Die Einkommensgrenze ist zu niedrig.
Do you know the income limit?	Kennst du die Einkommensgrenze?
the file number	das Aktenzeichen
I cannot remember the file number.	Ich kann mir das Aktenzeichen nicht merken.
Please write down the file number.	Bitte schreiben Sie das Aktenzeichen auf.
the processing status	der Bearbeitungsstand
I am checking the processing status.	Ich prüfe den Bearbeitungsstand.
The processing status of the application is unknown.	Der Bearbeitungsstand des Antrags ist unbekannt.
the course, the run	der Lauf
Over the course of the years a lot has changed.	Im Lauf der Jahre hat sich vieles geändert.
The course of the river is very calm here.	Der Lauf des Flusses ist hier sehr ruhig.
the people, the nation	das Volk
The people elected a new government.	Das Volk wählte eine neue Regierung.
The whole nation celebrated the day.	Das ganze Volk feierte den Tag.

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