We do not use a connector if:
- the first part ends in a vowel (including the mute e):
- the first part ends in unstressed -en, -el, or -em
- the first part is not a noun
1. The first part ends in a vowel (including the mute e)
| het menu + de kaart
| de menukaart
| the menu card
|
| de politie + de agent
| de politieagent
| the police officer
|
| het programma + het boekje
| het programmaboekje
| the program booklet
|
| de geboorte + het cijfer
| het geboortecijfer
| the birth rate
|
Exception: Compound nouns of which the first part is a diminutive. In this case, you have to use a connecting -s?.
2. The first part ends in unstressed -en, -el, or -em.
In the table below, the stressed syllables are underlined so that it is easy to see that -en, -el, and -em are unstressed.
| het kussen + het sloop
| het kussensloop
| the pillow case
|
| de sleutel + de hanger
| de sleutelhanger
| the key hanger
|
| de bezem + de steel
| de bezemsteel
| the broom stick
|
3. The first part is not a noun.
The first part could be, for example, an adjective, an adverb, a verb, or a noun:
| hard + de loper
| de hardloper
| the jogger
|
| uit + de gang
| de uitgang
| the exit
|
| wandelen + de stok
| de wandelstok
| the walking stick
|
Mistoqsijiet?