das Kind
child
Full 4-Case Declension Table
Switch determiner types to inspect how articles and noun endings change together.
Definite (der / die / das): Used for specific, already known, or general-category nouns.
| Case (Fall) | Question | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
Nominative Nominativ (Werfall) | Wer oder was? | das Kind | die Kinder |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | das Kind | die Kinder |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | dem Kind | den Kindern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | des Kindes | der Kinder |
Indefinite (ein / eine): Used when introducing a countable singular noun; has no plural article in German.
| Case (Fall) | Question | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
Nominative Nominativ (Werfall) | Wer oder was? | ein Kind | Kinder |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | ein Kind | Kinder |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | einem Kind | Kindern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | eines Kindes | Kinder |
Negative (kein / keine): Negates nouns with or without an indefinite article; follows ein-words in singular and die in plural.
| Case (Fall) | Question | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
Nominative Nominativ (Werfall) | Wer oder was? | kein Kind | keine Kinder |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | kein Kind | keine Kinder |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | keinem Kind | keinen Kindern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | keines Kindes | keiner Kinder |
Possessive (mein / dein / …): Uses ein-word endings in singular and definite-like endings in plural (mein/dein/sein/ihr/unser/euer/Ihr).
| Case (Fall) | Question | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
Nominative Nominativ (Werfall) | Wer oder was? | mein Kind | meine Kinder |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | mein Kind | meine Kinder |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | meinem Kind | meinen Kindern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | meines Kindes | meiner Kinder |
Why These Endings Work
Standard pattern for most masculine (der) and neuter (das) nouns: genitive singular ends in -s or -es.
- Dative plural adds -n to the plural stem: Kinder → Kindern.
Example Sentences in Context
Das Kind lernt jeden Tag neue Wörter.
The child learns new words every day.
Die Großeltern spielen mit den Kindern im Garten.
The grandparents play with the children in the garden.
Das Lachen des Kindes freut die ganze Familie.
The child’s laughter makes the whole family happy.
Interactive Tools & Related Guides
More Nouns in People & Family
FAQs: das Kind
Is "Kind" der, die, or das in German?
"Kind" takes the neuter definite article "das" (das Kind). Gender cue: Grammatically neuter (das) despite referring to a young person.
What is the plural and Dative plural of "das Kind"?
The Nominative plural of das Kind is "die Kinder" (pattern: -er). In the Dative plural it becomes "den Kindern".
How does "das Kind" change in the Genitive, Accusative, and Dative?
As a strong neuter noun, "Kind" changes only in the Genitive singular (des Kindes); Accusative and Dative keep "Kind".