der, die, das (the three genders)
Gender, plural, and ein / kein.
15 minutes · A free lesson from A1: Erste Schritte (first steps) · Roman and Urdu pronunciation guides and English meanings are shown under each phrase
Every German noun has a gender: der (masculine), die (feminine) or das (neuter). Learn each noun with its article: not Tisch but der Tisch.
| der | Say dehr | دےر | Means: the (masculine) |
| die | Say dee | دی | Means: the (feminine, and every plural) |
| das | Say das | داس | Means: the (neuter); that |
| Tisch | Say tish | تِش | Means: table |
| der Tisch | Say dehr tish | دےر تِش | Means: the table |
In the plural, the article is always die: die Tische.
| die | Say dee | دی | Means: the (feminine, and every plural) |
| die Tische | Say dee tishuh | دی تِشَ | Means: the tables |
ein / eine = a: ein Tisch, eine Lampe, ein Buch. kein / keine = no, not any: Ich habe keine Zeit.
| ein / eine | Say ain, ainuh | آئن, آئنَ | Means: a (masculine, neuter) / a (feminine) |
| ein Tisch, eine Lampe, ein Buch | Say ain tish, ainuh lampuh, ain bookh | آئن تِش, آئنَ لامپَ, آئن بُوخ | Means: a table, a lamp, a book |
| kein / keine | Say kain, kainuh | کائن, کائنَ | Means: no, not a (masculine, neuter / feminine) |
| Ich habe keine Zeit. | Say ikh haabuh kainuh tsait. | اِخ ہابَ کائنَ تسائت. | Means: I have no time. |
Lesson quiz
Check what you have learned. Choose an answer to see whether it is right, and why.
Quick check: Which article goes with “Zeitung”?
- die
- der
- das
Show the answer
A: die — Nouns ending in -ung, -heit, -keit, -schaft and -ion are feminine: die Zeitung.
Quick check: Which article goes with “Mädchen”?
- die
- der
- das
Show the answer
C: das — Nouns ending in -chen are neuter: das Mädchen, even though it means a girl.
Quick check: What is the article in the plural?
- The same as in the singular
- Always die
- Always das
Show the answer
B: Always die — In the plural the article is always die: der Tisch, die Tische.
Quick check: What does “Ich habe keine Zeit” mean?
- I have a little time.
- I have time today.
- I have no time.
Show the answer
C: I have no time. — kein and keine mean no, or not any.
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