In most cases, German and English capitalization rules are similar or identical. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. If you want to become proficient in writing German learning these rules is imperative for good grammar. Here is a closer look at the most important differences:
1. NOUNS
All German nouns are capitalized. This simple rule was made even more consistent by the new spelling reforms.
Whereas under the old rules there were exceptions in many common noun phrases and some verbs (radfahren, recht haben, heute abend), the 1996 reforms now require the nouns in such expressions to be capitalized (and set apart): Rad fahren (to ride a bike), Recht haben (to be right), heute Abend (this evening). Another example is a common phrase for languages, previously written without caps (auf englisch, in English) and now written with a capital letter: auf Englisch. The new rules make it easy. If it’s a noun, capitalize it!
| History of German CAPITALIZATION |
| • 750 The first known German texts appear. They are translations of Latin works written by monks. Inconsistent orthography. |
| • 1450 Johannes Gutenberg invents printing with movable type. |
| • 1500s At least 40% of all printed works are Luther’s works. In his German Bible manuscript, he only capitalizes some nouns. On their own, the printers add capitalization for all nouns. |
| • 1527 Seratius Krestus introduces capital letters for proper nouns and the first word in a sentence. |
| • 1530 Johann Kollross writes “GOTT” in all caps. |
| • 1722 Freier advocates the advantages ofKleinschreibung in hisAnwendung zur teutschen ortografie. |
| • 1774 Johann Christoph Adelung first codifies rules for German capitalization and other orthographic guidelines in his “dictionary”. |
| • 1880 Konrad Duden publishes hisOrthographisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, which soon becomes a standard throughout the German-speaking world. |
| • 1892 Switzerland becomes the first German-speaking country to adopt Duden’s work as an official standard. |
| • 1901 Last official change in German spelling rules until 1996. |
| • 1924 Founding of the Swiss BVR (see Web links below) with the goal of eliminating most capitalization in German. |
| • 1996 In Vienna, representatives from all of the German-speaking countries sign an agreement to adopt new spelling reforms. The reforms are introduced in August for schools and some government agencies. |
The reformers of German spelling have been criticized for a lack of consistency, and unfortunately nouns are no exception. Some nouns in phrases with the verbs bleiben, sein and werden are treated as uncapitalized predicate adjectives. Two examples: “Er ist schuld daran.” (It’s his fault.) and “Bin ich hier recht?” (Am I in the right place?).
Technically, die Schuld (guilt, debt) and das Recht (law, right) are nouns (schuldig/richtig would be the adjectives), but in these idiomatic expressions with sein the noun is considered a predicate adjective and is not capitalized. The same is true of some stock phrases, such as “sie denkt deutsch.” (She thinks [like a] German.) But it’s “auf gut Deutsch” (in plain German) because that is a prepositional phrase. However, such cases are usually standard phrases that one can just learn as vocabulary.
2. PRONOUNS
Only the German personal pronoun “Sie” must be capitalized. Spelling reform logically left the formal Sie and its related forms (Ihnen,Ihr) capitalized, but called for the informal, familiar forms of “you” (du,dich, ihr, euch, etc.) to be in lower case letters. Out of habit or preference, many German speakers still capitalize du in their letters and email. But they don’t have to. In public proclamations or fliers, the familiar plural forms of “you” (ihr, euch) are often capitalized: “Wir bitten Euch, liebe Mitglieder…” (“We bid you, dear members…”).
Like most other languages, German does not capitalize the first-person singular pronoun ich (I) unless it is the first word in a sentence.
3. ADJECTIVES 1
German adjectives — including those of nationality — are NOT capitalized. In English, it is correct to write “the American writer” or “a German car.” In German, adjectives are not capitalized, even if they refer to nationality: der amerikanische Präsident (the American president),ein deutsches Bier (a German beer). The only exception to this rule is when an adjective is part of a species name, a legal, geographic or historical term; an official title, certain holidays, or common expression:der Zweite Weltkrieg (the Second World War), der Nahe Osten (the Middle East), die Schwarze Witwe (the black widow [spider]), Regierender Bürgermeister (“ruling” mayor), der Weiße Hai (the great white shark), der Heilige Abend (Christmas Eve).
Even in book, film or organizational titles, adjectives are usually not capitalized: Die amerikanische Herausforderung (The American Challenge), Die weiße Rose (The White Rose), Amt für öffentlichen Verkehr (Office of Public Transportation).
In fact, for book and movie titles in German, only the first word and any nouns are capitalized. (See the article on German Punctuation for more about book and film titles in German.)
Farben (colors) in German can be either nouns or adjectives. In certain prepositional phrases they are nouns: in Rot (in red), bei Grün (at bei Grün (at bei Grün (at bei Grün (at green, i.e., when the light turns green). In most other situations, colors are adjectives: “das rote Haus,” “Das Auto ist blau.”
4. ADJECTIVE 2
NOMINALIZED ADJECTIVES & NUMBERS
Nominalized adjectives are usually capitalized like nouns. Again, spelling reform brought more order to this category. Under the former rules, you wrote phrases like “Die nächste, bitte!” (“[The] Next, please!”) without caps. The new rules logically changed that to “DieNächste, bitte!” — reflecting the use of the adjective nächste as a noun (short for “die nächste Person”). The same is true for these expressions: im Allgemeinen (in general), nicht im Geringsten (not in the slightest), ins Reine schreiben (to make a neat copy, write a final draft), im Voraus (in advance).
Nominalized cardinal and ordinal numbers are capitalized.Ordnungszahlen and cardinal numbers (Kardinalzahlen) used as nouns are capitalized: “der Erste und der Letzte” (the first and last one), “jederDritte” (every third one). “In Mathe bekam er eine Fünf.” (He got a five [D grade] in math.)bekam er eine Fünf.” (He got a five [D grade] in math.)
Superlatives with am are still not capitalized: am besten, am schnellsten, am meisten. The same is true for forms of ander (other),viel(e) (much, many) and wenig: “mit anderen teilen” (to share with others), “Es gibt viele, die das nicht können.” (There are many who can’t do that.)viele, die das nicht können.” (There are many who can’t do that.)teilen” (to share with others), “Es gibt viele, die das nicht können.” (There are many who can’t do that.)schnellsten, am meisten. The same is true for forms of ander (other),viel(e) (much, many) and wenig: “mit anderen teilen” (to share with others), “Es gibt viele, die das nicht können.” (There are many who can’t do that.)