A1 · grammar
Articles, Gender & Plural
der, die, das and how nouns form the plural.
Three genders
Every German noun has a gender. Learn the article together with the noun: der Tisch, not just Tisch.
| Gender | Article | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | der | der Mann, der Tisch |
| Feminine | die | die Frau, die Straße |
| Neuter | das | das Kind, das Buch |
Common plural patterns
| Pattern | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| -e | der Tisch | die Tische |
| -e + umlaut | der Apfel (-ä) | die Äpfel |
| -(e)n | die Frau | die Frauen |
| -er + umlaut | das Buch | die Bücher |
| -s | das Auto | die Autos |
| no change | das Zimmer | die Zimmer |
Tip
See the Noun Gender Rules resource for endings that reveal the gender, such as -ung (always die) and -chen (always das).
Test Your Knowledge
1. Which article goes with 'Buch' (book)?
2. What is the plural of 'die Frau'?
3. In the plural, the definite article is always...