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Mixed masculine nouns: the 'ns' genitive pattern

When learning German, you quickly discover that nouns change their endings depending on their grammatical role. You might already be familiar with standard weak masculine nouns (often called N-declension), which add an -n or -en in almost all cases outside the nominative. However, English speakers often trip over a specific, smaller group of masculine words that follow a slightly different mixed pattern.

These mixed masculine nouns, such as Name and Gedanke, look like weak nouns at first glance. They add an -n in the accusative and dative singular forms. Crucially, they do not stop there in the genitive singular. Instead of just adding an -n, they add an -ns. This unique mix of weak and strong endings is a common stumbling block, but the group of words is small and easy to memorise.

Word list
NamemA1 name genitive: des Namens BuchstabemA2 letter genitive: des Buchstabens FamiliennamemA2 surname genitive: des Familiennamens NachnamemA2 surname genitive: des Nachnamens voller NamemA2 full name genitive: des vollen Namens vollständiger NamemA2 full name genitive: des vollständigen Namens VornamemA2 first name genitive: des Vornamens BenutzernamemB1 username genitive: des Benutzernamens GeburtsnamemB1 maiden name genitive: des Geburtsnamens GedankemB1 thought genitive: des Gedankens MädchennamemB1 maiden name genitive: des Mädchennamens SpitznamemB1 nickname genitive: des Spitznamens AberglaubemB2 superstition genitive: des Aberglaubens GlaubemB2 belief genitive: des Glaubens GlaubemB2 faith genitive: des Glaubens GroßbuchstabemB2 capital letter genitive: des Großbuchstabens UnglaubemB2 disbelief genitive: des Unglaubens WiderwillemB2 reluctance genitive: des Widerwillens WillemB2 willingness genitive: des Willens WillemC1 will genitive: des Willens FunkemC2 spark genitive: des Funkens HintergedankemC2 ulterior motive genitive: des Hintergedankens Letzter WillemC2 will genitive: des letzten Willens
The Name Family

The most common word in this category is Name. In the nominative singular, it is simply der Name. In the accusative and dative singular, it becomes den Namen and dem Namen. But in the genitive singular, it is des Namens.

Ich habe den Namen des Mannes vergessen.
(I have forgotten the man's name.)
Wir brauchen eine Kopie Ihres vollen Namens.
(We need a copy of your full name.)

Naturally, any compound word ending in Name behaves exactly the same way. This covers everything from your Vorname and Nachname to your Familienname. It also includes terms like Benutzername for your digital accounts, or a playful Spitzname.

Bitte schreiben Sie Ihren vollständigen Namen auf das Formular.
(Please write your full name on the form.)
Die Schreibweise seines Vornamens ist ungewöhnlich.
(The spelling of his first name is unusual.)

This rule also applies to a Geburtsname or a Mädchenname.

Sie hat ihren Mädchennamen behalten.
(She kept her maiden name.)
Thoughts, Beliefs, and Wills

Several abstract nouns also follow this mixed pattern. A prominent example is Gedanke along with Hintergedanke. You will often see these in the dative case with prepositions, or in the genitive when describing the origin of an idea.

Ich muss mich an diesen Gedanken gewöhnen.
(I have to get used to this thought.)
Die Macht eines Gedankens kann die Welt verändern.
(The power of a thought can change the world.)

Another major group revolves around belief: Glaube, Unglaube, and Aberglaube. Notice how these words end in -e in the nominative, but gain the -ns in the genitive singular.

Trotz seines Aberglaubens lief er unter der Leiter durch.
(Despite his superstition, he walked under the ladder.)
Sie hat den Glauben an die Gerechtigkeit verloren.
(She has lost faith in justice.)

The noun Wille, as well as Widerwille and the legal phrase Letzter Wille, belong to this group too.

Die Eröffnung seines letzten Willens findet morgen statt.
(The reading of his will takes place tomorrow.)
Letters and Sparks

Finally, there are a few physical or concrete concepts that use the -ns genitive. The most important one for language learners is Buchstabe, including Großbuchstabe. Another poetic word in this family is Funke.

Die Bedeutung dieses Buchstabens ist unklar.
(The meaning of this letter is unclear.)
Das Passwort muss mindestens einen Großbuchstaben enthalten.
(The password must contain at least one capital letter.)
Der Wind hat den Funken auf das Dach geweht.
(The wind blew the spark onto the roof.)
Summary

When dealing with masculine nouns ending in -e like Name, Gedanke, Wille, and Buchstabe, remember the mixed rule. In the singular, they add an -n for the accusative and dative cases, but they take an -ns for the genitive case.