German Definite Articles
Pick the right form of 'the' in every case, know when German needs it, and use im, am and zum naturally.
The German word for 'the' has six forms: der, die, das, den, dem and des. Which one you need depends on the noun's gender and its case in the sentence.
Learn the table once and you have the pattern for many other words, like dieser, welcher and the relative pronouns.
The four-case table
Read it column by column: each gender has its own path through the cases. Feminine and plural are the same in nominative and accusative.
Nominative (subject)
- Masculineder
- Femininedie
- Neuterdas
- Pluraldie
Accusative (direct object)
- Masculineden
- Femininedie
- Neuterdas
- Pluraldie
Dative (indirect object)
- Masculinedem
- Feminineder
- Neuterdem
- Pluraldennoun adds -n
Genitive (possession)
- Masculinedesnoun adds -s/-es
- Feminineder
- Neuterdesnoun adds -s/-es
- Pluralder
The forms in real sentences
- Accusative: only masculine changes, der → den.
- Dative: dem, der, dem, and den + -n in the plural.
- Genitive: des + -s for masculine and neuter nouns.
Ich nehme den Bus zur Arbeit.
I take the bus to work.
Wir schenken der Lehrerin Blumen.
We're giving the teacher flowers.
Er spielt mit den Kindern Fußball.
He's playing football with the children.
Das Auto des Nachbarn ist neu.
The neighbour's car is new.
When German uses 'the' and English doesn't
- Abstract ideas: Das Leben ist schön.
- Meals, seasons, months: nach dem Essen, im Sommer.
- Streets and some countries: in der Schweiz.
- Names in casual speech: Der Tom kommt später.
Nach dem Frühstück gehe ich joggen.
After breakfast I go jogging.
Meine Tante wohnt in der Türkei.
My aunt lives in Turkey.
Short forms with prepositions
Some prepositions merge with dem, der or das. The short form is the normal choice in everyday German.
Common contractions
- in + demim
- an + demam
- zu + demzum
- zu + derzur
- von + demvom
- bei + dembeim
- in + dasins
- an + dasans
Am Samstag gehen wir ins Kino.
On Saturday we're going to the cinema.
Ich muss noch zur Apotheke.
I still have to go to the pharmacy.
Common mistakes
✗
Ich sehe der Hund.✓ Ich sehe den Hund.
A masculine direct object needs den.
✗
mit die Kinder✓ mit den Kindern
Mit takes the dative: den, plus -n on the noun.
✗
Leben ist schön.✓ Das Leben ist schön.
German usually puts the article before abstract nouns.
✗
Ich gehe zu dem Arzt.✓ Ich gehe zum Arzt.
Use the short form zum in normal speech.
Questions learners ask
What are all the forms of der in German?
The definite article has six forms: der, die, das, den, dem and des. Which one you use depends on gender, number and case.
Why is it den Kindern and not die Kinder?
In the dative plural the article is den and the noun adds -n. The noun only stays unchanged if its plural already ends in -n or -s.
When do you leave out the article in German?
Before most country and city names, jobs after sein (Ich bin Lehrer) and uncountable things in general (Ich trinke Kaffee).