Rule for neuter · das

Nouns ending in -nis

-nis → das · 0.5% (but Kenntnis, Erkenntnis are die)

The rule, in plain language

Nouns ending in -nis are usually neuter, especially those formed from verbs: das Ergebnis (result), das Bündnis (alliance), or das Verständnis (understanding) - and they double the -s in the plural (Ergebnisse, Bündnisse, Verständnisse). The pattern covers 0.5% of our list, with 11 words following the rule. The notable exception is a small meaning family around knowing and understanding: die Kenntnis and die Erkenntnis are feminine despite the same ending - worth memorizing separately, since they come up often in professional and academic contexts.

Representative examples

• das Ergebnis · result
• das Bündnis · alliance
• das Verständnis · understanding

The exceptions

All course words that follow this rule

• das Ergebnis
• das Bündnis
• das Verständnis
• das Verhältnis
• das Gefängnis
• das Geheimnis
• das Erlebnis
• das Ereignis
• das Tennis