No connector

We do not use a connector if:

1. the first part ends in a vowel (including the [mute e](#/lesson/SpellingAndPronunciation.17)):
2. the first part ends in unstressed -en, -el, or -em
3. the first part is not a noun
4. The first part ends in a vowel (including the [mute e](#/lesson/SpellingAndPronunciation.17))

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](#/lesson/NounsAndArticles.27).

1. 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

1. 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