The gender of each noun is constant and invariable. However, there is a group of nouns that have two different genders in the singular number, both with the same meaning.
| Examples | gender |
| Bonbon | der or das |
| Filter | der or das |
| Joghurt | der or das |
| Keks | der or das |
| Liter | der or das |
| Poster | das or der |
In addition, there are nouns that have two different genders but their meaning varies according to gender.
| Examples | |||
| gender A | meaning A | gender B | meaning B |
| der See | lake | die See | sea |
| der Erbe | heir | das Erbe | inheritance |
| der Gehalt | content | das Gehalt | salary |
| der Hut | hat | die Hut | protection |
| der Junge | boy | das Junge | puppy |
| das Steuer | steering wheel | die Steuer | tax |
| der Weise | wise man | die Weise | way |
| die Leiter | ladder | der Leiter | manager |
| die Taube | dove | der Taube | a deaf person |
| das Tor | gate | der Tor | fool |