Nouns ending in -anz/-enz: die
dieFeminine (die)
Words ending in -anz/-enz are almost always feminine.
How reliable is this rule?
In our rule set: Almost always (a few exceptions exist).
In our word lists, nouns ending in -anz/-enz that take die: 7 of 12.
Examples ending in -anz/-enz
- dieToleranz
- dieDistanz
- dieEleganz
- dieExistenz
- dieKonferenz
- dieDifferenz
Look-alikes: same ending, different article
These nouns end in the same letters but do not take die. Some come from our lists, some are common words we checked by hand. Matching letters alone are not always enough, so check the word.
- derTanz
dance
- derKranz
wreath
- derGlanz
shine, gloss
- derSchwanz
tail
- derLenz
spring (poetic)
Common questions
- Which article do German nouns ending in -anz/-enz take?
- Words ending in -anz/-enz are almost always feminine. In our word lists, 7 of 12 of them take die.
- Are there exceptions to the -anz/-enz rule?
- In our lists, yes: der Tanz, der Kranz, der Glanz, der Schwanz, der Lenz. Learn these words together with their article.
Practice this rule
This rule is part of the gender-rules trainer on paid plans. The free plan covers 11 of 18 rules.
Other rules
More free tools
Stop looking words up. Start remembering them.
The gender-rules trainer in SRS Deutsch repeats each noun of a rule just before you would forget its article.
