A2-50 · Read compound nouns from the end
Weather and climate
Build and understand weather-related compound nouns, using the final noun for gender and plural.
About 5 minutes to read · 12 quiz questions
01
Find the main noun at the end
German joins nouns into compounds. The final noun gives the main meaning and gender: das Wetter + der Bericht → der Wetterbericht. The first part makes the meaning more specific.
Der Wetterbericht ist neu.
The weather report is new.
Die Wetterkarte zeigt Regen.
The weather map shows rain.
Ich lese den Wetterbericht.
I am reading the weather report.
Wetter + Karte ergibt Wetterkarte.
Weather plus map gives weather map.
A Wetterbericht is a kind of Bericht. Die Wetterkarte is a kind of Karte. Compound nouns are normally written as one word.
02
Recognize linking letters
Some compounds add a linking letter: die Sonne + der Schirm → der Sonnenschirm. Others join the nouns directly: der Regen + der Schirm → der Regenschirm. Learn common compounds as whole words.
Der Sonnenschirm steht hier.
The sun umbrella is here.
Sonne + Schirm ergibt Sonnenschirm.
Sun plus umbrella gives sun umbrella.
Die Hitzewelle dauert lange.
The heatwave lasts a long time.
Der Schneesturm ist stark.
The snowstorm is strong.
Die Hitzewelle combines Hitze and Welle; der Schneesturm combines Schnee and Sturm. The final noun still determines gender.
03
Form plurals and talk about climate
The final noun also determines the plural: der Bericht → die Berichte, so der Wetterbericht → die Wetterberichte. Wetter describes conditions at a time; Klima describes longer-term patterns.
Ich lese zwei Wetterberichte.
I am reading two weather reports.
Hier liegen drei Regenschirme.
There are three rain umbrellas here.
Der Klimawandel betrifft viele Regionen.
Climate change affects many regions.
Die Wetterkarten liegen hier.
The weather maps are here.
Der Klimawandel combines Klima and Wandel. Der Regenschirm has the plural die Regenschirme. Work backward from the final word when reading an unfamiliar compound.
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