Eifeler Regel (n-Reegel)

A1 — Aussprooch

The n-rule: when a final -n is kept (before vowels and n, d, t, z, h) and when it drops

I can recognise and apply the n-rule: keep a final -n before vowels and n, d, t, z, h, drop it before other consonants.

The n-rule: when a final -n is kept (before vowels and n, d, t, z, h) and when it drops

Examples

— I am at home, but I am tired.
— The apple and the cake are on the table.
— If we have time, I go into town.

AussproochA1

The Eifeler Regel (n-rule)

When a final -n is kept (before vowels and n, d, t, z, h) and when it drops

Learning Goal

I can recognise and apply the n-rule: keep a final -n before vowels and n, d, t, z, h, drop it before other consonants.

Exam Skills:LauschterenLiesenSchreiwenSchwätzen

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

I am at home, but I am tired.

The apple and the cake are on the table.

If we have time, I go into town.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

D'Eifeler Regel (n-Reegel) ass déi bekanntst Aussproochregel am Lëtzebuergeschen: e finaalt -n (oder -nn) fält ewech, wann dat nächst Wuert mat engem Konsonant ufänkt — ausser virun n, d, t, z, h a virun de Vokaler.

Wéini bleift den -n?

Nächst Wuert fänkt un mat	-n	Beispill
Vokal (a, e, i, o, u)	bleift ✓	den Apel, Ech sinn et
n, d, t, z, h	bleift ✓	den Dag, den Hond, wann nëmmen
anere Konsonant	fält ewech ✗	de Bäcker, Ech si frou, wa mer

Sätz mat der Eifeler Regel

Ech sinn doheem. — d virum d bleift den -n stoen
Ech si midd. — virum m fält den -n ewech
Mir ginn an d'Schoul. — virum Vokal bleift den -n
Mir gi mat him. — virum m fält den -n ewech
Hien huet den Telefon. — virum t bleift den -n

D'Reegel gëllt fir Verben (sinn/si, ginn/gi), Artikelen (den/de, en/e), Pronomen (wann/wa) — iwwerall, wou e Wuert op -n endet. Um Enn vum Saz a virun enger Paus bleift den -n ëmmer stoen.

Merkhëllef: n-d-t-z-h — nëmme virun dëse Konsonanten (an de Vokaler) iwwerlieft den -n.

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

Learners keep the -n everywhere or drop it everywhere. It alternates by the next word's first sound: den Apel / de Bäcker, Ech sinn et / Ech si frou.

Common Error Patterns

Final -n kept where it must drop (e.g. *sinn frou, *den Bäcker)

Drop the -n before consonants other than n, d, t, z, h: si frou, de Bäcker.

Final -n dropped where it must stay (e.g. *de Apel, *si et)

Keep the -n before vowels and n, d, t, z, h: den Apel, sinn et.

I am at home, but I am tired.

sinn before d (doheem) keeps -n; si before m (midd) drops it - same verb, one sentence.

The apple and the cake are on the table.

den before a vowel (Apel), de before K (Kuch) - the article alternates by the rule.

If we have time, I go into town.

wann becomes wa before m (mer); ginn keeps -n before a vowel (ech... an).

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

A1 Course

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Put it into practice

Try a free exercise from the course

Frequently asked questions

When is Eifeler Regel (n-Reegel) used?: D' Eifeler Regel (n-Reegel) ass déi bekanntst Aussproochregel am Lëtzebuergeschen: e finaalt -n (oder -nn ) fält ewech, wann dat nächst Wuert mat engem Konsonant ufänkt — ausser virun n, d, t, z, h a virun de Vokaler.
How is Eifeler Regel (n-Reegel) formed?: D'Reegel gëllt fir Verben ( sinn/si , ginn/gi ), Artikelen ( den/de , en/e ), Pronomen ( wann/wa ) — iwwerall, wou e Wuert op -n endet. Um Enn vum Saz a virun enger Paus bleift den -n ëmmer stoen. Merkhëllef: n-d-t-z-h — nëmme virun dëse Konsonanten (an de Vokaler) iwwerlieft den -n.
What are common mistakes with Eifeler Regel (n-Reegel)?: Learners write or say the -n everywhere because the dictionary form keeps it, or drop it everywhere once they learn the rule. The rule is about the NEXT word's first sound, so the same word alternates: den Apel / de Bäcker, Ech sinn et / Ech si frou. 🇷🇺 Russian speakers: Russian has no sandhi rule like this - train it as a listening skill first: sinn and si are the same word. 🇩🇪 German speakers: German keeps final -n everywhere (bin, den, wenn); resist transferring that habit.

Nächst Wuert fänkt un mat

-n

Beispill

Vokal (a, e, i, o, u)

bleift ✓

den Apel, Ech sinn et

n, d, t, z, h

bleift ✓

den Dag, den Hond, wann nëmmen

anere Konsonant

fält ewech ✗

de Bäcker, Ech si frou, wa mer

Frequently asked questions

When is Eifeler Regel (n-Reegel) used?

D' Eifeler Regel (n-Reegel) ass déi bekanntst Aussproochregel am Lëtzebuergeschen: e finaalt -n (oder -nn ) fält ewech, wann dat nächst Wuert mat engem Konsonant ufänkt — ausser virun n, d, t, z, h a virun de Vokaler.

How is Eifeler Regel (n-Reegel) formed?

D'Reegel gëllt fir Verben ( sinn/si , ginn/gi ), Artikelen ( den/de , en/e ), Pronomen ( wann/wa ) — iwwerall, wou e Wuert op -n endet. Um Enn vum Saz a virun enger Paus bleift den -n ëmmer stoen. Merkhëllef: n-d-t-z-h — nëmme virun dëse Konsonanten (an de Vokaler) iwwerlieft den -n.

What are common mistakes with Eifeler Regel (n-Reegel)?

Learners write or say the -n everywhere because the dictionary form keeps it, or drop it everywhere once they learn the rule. The rule is about the NEXT word's first sound, so the same word alternates: den Apel / de Bäcker, Ech sinn et / Ech si frou. 🇷🇺 Russian speakers: Russian has no sandhi rule like this - train it as a listening skill first: sinn and si are the same word. 🇩🇪 German speakers: German keeps final -n everywhere (bin, den, wenn); resist transferring that habit.