Possession with S-Sounds
To show possession with names in German, you usually add an -s to the end (for example, Annas Spind). However, if a proper noun already ends in an s-sound—specifically -s, -ß, -x, or -z—adding another "s" would be difficult to pronounce.
Instead, you simply add an apostrophe (') to the end of the name.
| Where is Lukas's locker in the changing room, actually? | Wo ist eigentlich Lukas' Spind in der Umkleidekabine? |
This rule applies to names ending in -x:
| I am looking for Max's jersey because we have a game soon. | Ich suche Max' Trikot, weil wir gleich ein Spiel haben. |
It also applies to names ending in -z:
| Why is Fritz's shower gel lying on the floor? | Warum liegt Fritz' Duschgel auf dem Boden? |
Spoken vs. Written Context
Because the apostrophe is only visible in writing, a possessive name like Dennis' sounds exactly the same as the basic name Dennis when spoken. You can easily tell it is possessive from the context, usually because it sits directly in front of the noun it owns.
| We need Dennis's deodorant because the changing room totally stinks! | Wir brauchen Dennis' Deo, weil die Umkleidekabine total stinkt! |
| Lukas's jersey stinks because he never washes it. | Lukas' Trikot stinkt, weil er es nie wäscht. |
Adding Adjectives
If you want to describe the owned item, place the adjective after the possessive name. Because there is no article before the adjective, it takes a strong adjective ending.
For example, to describe the neuter noun das Trikot, the adjective takes the strong neuter -es ending:
| Is Fritz's wet jersey here then? | Ist Fritz' nasses Trikot denn hier? |