Good Morning, Good Day, Good Night

Just checking if lesson 4.4 is correct when saying Good night and using Gute Nacht? Seems odd that we use Guten Morgen, Guten Tag, Guten Abend but not Guten Nacht? Trying to understand the nuances of the language.

Hi William, Welcome to the confusing world of German genders. Nacht is a feminine noun whereas the other nouns are masculine. That affects the articles and adjectives used to define the nouns. You'll learn about it soon in your lessons.

Ahh, should have caught that. Thanks Byron!

I think genders are the most frustrating thing about the German language. I can easily go into a little rant, which I particularly like to do for my German speaking friends. Where is the logic in sun being feminine while moon is masculine? Then to make it worse, day, which one could reasonably associate with sunlight is instead masculine while night which could relate to moonlight is reversed as well and is feminine. Silly Germans! But, what can one do? We just have to shake our heads and keep studying.

Speaking within the context of greetings, and in sensing a "what feels right", I would add this; Guten Morgen, Guten Tag, and Guten Abend seem to have a connotation of a coming together meeting of two or more persons whereas Gute Nacht implies a sense of not seeing that/ those person(s) until another day; a final contact for the 24 hour period as in relaying to a child at bedtime or perhaps a night shift person going to work. Just my .02 worth.