Eifeler Regel: das auslautende -n

The Eifeler Regel, or n-rule, is the best-known sound rule of Luxembourgish, and unlike most sound rules it shows up in the spelling. A word that ends in -n or -nn drops it when the next word begins with a consonant, except before n, d, t, z and h. Before a vowel the -n stays too.

When does the -n stay?

The next word starts with	-n	Example
a vowel	stays	den Apel - the apple, Ech sinn aus Esch. - I'm from Esch.
n, d, t, z, h	stays	den Dag - the day, den Hond - the dog, Mir wunnen zu Lëtzebuerg.
any other consonant	drops	de Bäcker - the baker, Ech si frou. - I'm happy, Mir wunne gär hei.

In sentences

• Ech sinn doheem. - I'm at home. (d follows, so sinn)
• Ech si midd. - I'm tired. (m follows, so si)
• Mir ginn an d'Schoul. - We're going to school. (a vowel follows, so ginn)
• Mir gi mat him. - We're going with him. (m follows, so gi)
• Hien huet den Telefon. - He has the phone. (t follows, so den)

Which words it affects

It applies to every word ending in -n: verbs (sinn/si, ginn/gi, wunnen/wunne), articles (den/de, en/e), pronouns and possessives (hien/hie, mäin/mäi), small words (wann/wa, an/a, vun/vu) and adjective endings (e groussen Hond but e grousse Mann). At the end of a sentence or before a pause, the -n stays: Ech weess, wou mir sinn. - I know where we are.

Why it matters for English speakers

English has nothing like this in writing, so learners either keep every -n or drop them at random. Two habits help. First, look at the word that follows: that word alone decides. Second, memorise the five keepers with a phrase: n, d, t, z, h are the consonants made with the tip of the tongue behind the teeth (plus h), the same place the n is made.

The rule is named after the Eifel, the hill region across the German border whose dialects drop the -n in the same way.