das Semester
semester / term
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 Semester | die Semester |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | das Semester | die Semester |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | dem Semester | den Semestern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | des Semesters | der Semester |
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 Semester | Semester |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | ein Semester | Semester |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | einem Semester | Semestern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | eines Semesters | Semester |
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 Semester | keine Semester |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | kein Semester | keine Semester |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | keinem Semester | keinen Semestern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | keines Semesters | keiner Semester |
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 Semester | meine Semester |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | mein Semester | meine Semester |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | meinem Semester | meinen Semestern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | meines Semesters | meiner Semester |
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: Semester → Semestern.
Example Sentences in Context
Das Semester beginnt im Oktober.
The semester starts in October.
Vor dem Semester planen viele Studierende ihren Stundenplan.
Before the semester, many students plan their timetable.
Interactive Tools & Related Guides
More Nouns in Study & Grammar
FAQs: das Semester
Is "Semester" der, die, or das in German?
"Semester" takes the neuter definite article "das" (das Semester). Gender cue: Lexical gender — memorize together with its article.
What is the plural and Dative plural of "das Semester"?
The Nominative plural of das Semester is "die Semester" (pattern: -). In the Dative plural it becomes "den Semestern".
How does "das Semester" change in the Genitive, Accusative, and Dative?
As a strong neuter noun, "Semester" changes only in the Genitive singular (des Semesters); Accusative and Dative keep "Semester".