das Meer
sea / ocean
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 Meer | die Meere |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | das Meer | die Meere |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | dem Meer | den Meeren |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | des Meeres | der Meere |
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 Meer | Meere |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | ein Meer | Meere |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | einem Meer | Meeren |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | eines Meeres | Meere |
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 Meer | keine Meere |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | kein Meer | keine Meere |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | keinem Meer | keinen Meeren |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | keines Meeres | keiner Meere |
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 Meer | meine Meere |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | mein Meer | meine Meere |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | meinem Meer | meinen Meeren |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | meines Meeres | meiner Meere |
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: Meere → Meeren.
Example Sentences in Context
Wir machen heute einen Ausflug an das Meer.
Today we are taking a trip to the sea.
Das Rauschen des Meeres hört man bis ins Hotel.
You can hear the sound of the sea all the way to the hotel.
Interactive Tools & Related Guides
More Nouns in Nature & Animals
FAQs: das Meer
Is "Meer" der, die, or das in German?
"Meer" takes the neuter definite article "das" (das Meer). Gender cue: Lexical gender — memorize together with its article.
What is the plural and Dative plural of "das Meer"?
The Nominative plural of das Meer is "die Meere" (pattern: -e). In the Dative plural it becomes "den Meeren".
How does "das Meer" change in the Genitive, Accusative, and Dative?
As a strong neuter noun, "Meer" changes only in the Genitive singular (des Meeres); Accusative and Dative keep "Meer".