Breakdown of Der Urlaub war ein denkwürdiges Erlebnis.
sein
to be
ein
a, an (eine)
der Urlaub
the vacation / the holiday
das Erlebnis
the experience (event, adventure)
denkwürdig
memorable
Questions & Answers about Der Urlaub war ein denkwürdiges Erlebnis.
How is denkwürdig formed, and what exactly does the -würdig suffix add to the meaning here?
It combines the verb stem of denken (to think) with the suffix -würdig (worthy of). Literally, it describes something "worthy of being thought about." While the similar suffix -wert often implies a practical recommendation (like sehenswert for "worth seeing"), -würdig usually carries a slightly more profound, emotional, or moral weight, making it the standard choice for a "memorable" or "historic" event.
Why does denkwürdig have the ending -es in this sentence?
Because it modifies the neuter noun das Erlebnis in the nominative case. After the indefinite article ein (which doesn't visually indicate whether a noun is masculine or neuter in the nominative), the adjective has to do the heavy lifting to show the gender. This requires the strong adjective ending, giving us the neuter marker -es in ein denkwürdiges Erlebnis.
Could I use erinnerungswürdig (worthy of remembering) instead of denkwürdig to mean "memorable"?
Yes, you can! Both mean "memorable." However, denkwürdig is a much older, more established fixed expression for events that leave a lasting impression. erinnerungswürdig is perfectly correct and understood, but it can sound slightly more literal or constructed compared to the natural, everyday flow of denkwürdig.
I often mix up the genders of words ending in -nis. Is there a rule for why it is das Erlebnis?
Nouns ending in -nis are almost entirely split between neuter and feminine. As a helpful guideline, if the noun is derived from a verb prefix/stem—like erleben (to experience) becoming das Erlebnis, or ergeben becoming das Ergebnis (the result)—it is usually neuter. If it describes an abstract state or permission, like die Kenntnis (knowledge) or die Erlaubnis (permission), it is usually feminine.
Learn Der Urlaub war ein denkwürdiges Erlebnis and more in German
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free