das Schwein
pig
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 Schwein | die Schweine |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | das Schwein | die Schweine |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | dem Schwein | den Schweinen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | des Schweins | der Schweine |
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 Schwein | Schweine |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | ein Schwein | Schweine |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | einem Schwein | Schweinen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | eines Schweins | Schweine |
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 Schwein | keine Schweine |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | kein Schwein | keine Schweine |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | keinem Schwein | keinen Schweinen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | keines Schweins | keiner Schweine |
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 Schwein | meine Schweine |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | mein Schwein | meine Schweine |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | meinem Schwein | meinen Schweinen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | meines Schweins | meiner Schweine |
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: Schweine → Schweinen.
Example Sentences in Context
Das Schwein liegt gern im Schlamm.
The pig likes lying in the mud.
Der Bauer füttert das Schwein.
The farmer feeds the pig.
Ich esse kein Fleisch vom Schwein.
I do not eat pork.
Interactive Tools & Related Guides
More Nouns in Nature & Animals
FAQs: das Schwein
Is "Schwein" der, die, or das in German?
"Schwein" takes the neuter definite article "das" (das Schwein). Gender cue: Lexical gender — memorize together with its article.
What is the plural and Dative plural of "das Schwein"?
The Nominative plural of das Schwein is "die Schweine" (pattern: -e). In the Dative plural it becomes "den Schweinen".
How does "das Schwein" change in the Genitive, Accusative, and Dative?
As a strong neuter noun, "Schwein" changes only in the Genitive singular (des Schweins); Accusative and Dative keep "Schwein".