German Possession: Apostrophe-S and 'of' Phrases
Learn to show possession in German using the possessive 's' and 'of' phrases, focusing on noun possession rather than possessive adjectives.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In German, showing possession is different from English. Instead of adding an apostrophe-s to a noun, German often uses the possessive article 'von' (of) or the genitive case. For example, 'Maria's bag' becomes 'Marias Tasche' or 'die Tasche von Maria'. Similarly, 'the end of the film' is 'das Ende des Films'. This lesson teaches you how to express possession using these structures, focusing on noun possession.
By the end, you can…
- express possession using the genitive case with proper names and nouns.
- use 'von' phrases to indicate possession when the genitive is less common.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Marias Tasche
Maria's bag
mah-REE-ahs TAH-shuh
Use with proper names; add -s to the name and no apostrophe.
die Tasche von Maria
the bag of Maria / Maria's bag
dee TAH-shuh fon mah-REE-ah
Common in spoken German, especially when the possessor is a name or a simple noun.
das Ende des Films
the end of the film
dahs EN-duh des FILMS
Genitive case: 'des Films' means 'of the film' for masculine/neuter nouns.
die Farbe des Autos
the color of the car
dee FAR-buh des OW-tohs
Genitive with neuter noun 'Auto'; 'des Autos' shows possession.
das Haus meiner Eltern
my parents' house
dahs HOWS MY-ner EL-tern
Genitive with plural noun; 'meiner Eltern' means 'of my parents'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
German uses the genitive case to show possession, especially in written and formal contexts. For masculine and neuter nouns, add -s or -es to the possessor and use the article 'des'. For feminine and plural nouns, use 'der'. Examples: 'das Auto des Mannes' (the man's car), 'die Tasche der Frau' (the woman's bag). With proper names, simply add -s: 'Annas Buch' (Anna's book). Alternatively, especially in spoken German, use 'von' + dative: 'das Buch von Anna'.
When to use it
Use the genitive in formal writing, news, and when the possessor is a common noun. Use 'von' phrases in everyday conversation, especially with names and simple nouns. For example, 'die Tasche von Maria' is more common in speech than 'Marias Tasche', though both are correct. Avoid using the English-style apostrophe-s; German only uses an apostrophe in rare cases like 'Andrea's' to avoid confusion.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Ist das Marias Tasche?
Is that Maria's bag?ist dahs mah-REE-ahs TAH-shuhNein, das ist die Tasche von Anna.
No, that is Anna's bag.nine dahs ist dee TAH-shuh fon AH-nahUnd wem gehört das Auto?
And whose car is that?unt vame guh-HERT dahs OW-tohDas ist das Auto meines Bruders.
That is my brother's car.dahs ist dahs OW-toh MY-nes BROO-dersA little context goes a long way
In German, the genitive case is more common in writing than in speech. In casual conversation, especially in southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, 'von' phrases are preferred. Using the genitive correctly can make your German sound more formal and polished.
One thing to watch for
Using an apostrophe-s as in English, e.g., 'Maria's Tasche'.
Try this instead: In German, do not use an apostrophe for possession. Say 'Marias Tasche' or 'die Tasche von Maria'.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you say 'the dog's ball' in German using the genitive?
Show a sample answer
der Ball des Hundes
The genitive of 'der Hund' is 'des Hundes', so 'the dog's ball' is 'der Ball des Hundes'. Alternatively, 'der Ball von dem Hund' is acceptable in spoken German.
2Translate: 'the color of the house'.
Show a sample answer
die Farbe des Hauses
The genitive of 'das Haus' is 'des Hauses', so 'the color of the house' is 'die Farbe des Hauses'. You could also say 'die Farbe von dem Haus'.
3Is 'Annas Buch' correct? Why or why not?
Show a sample answer
Yes, it is correct.
For proper names, add -s to show possession without an apostrophe. So 'Annas Buch' means 'Anna's book'. An apostrophe is not used.
To show possession in German, use the genitive case (des/der) or 'von' phrases. Avoid the English apostrophe-s; for names, just add -s.
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