der Keller
basement / cellar
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? | der Keller | die Keller |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | den Keller | die Keller |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | dem Keller | den Kellern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | des Kellers | der Keller |
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 Keller | Keller |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | einen Keller | Keller |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | einem Keller | Kellern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | eines Kellers | Keller |
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 Keller | keine Keller |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | keinen Keller | keine Keller |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | keinem Keller | keinen Kellern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | keines Kellers | keiner Keller |
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 Keller | meine Keller |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | meinen Keller | meine Keller |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | meinem Keller | meinen Kellern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | meines Kellers | meiner Keller |
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: Keller → Kellern.
Example Sentences in Context
Der Keller ist dunkel und kalt.
The cellar is dark and cold.
Wir räumen am Wochenende den Keller auf.
We are tidying the basement at the weekend.
Die Fahrräder stehen im Keller.
The bikes are in the basement.
Interactive Tools & Related Guides
More Nouns in Home & Living
FAQs: der Keller
Is "Keller" der, die, or das in German?
"Keller" takes the masculine definite article "der" (der Keller). Gender cue: Ending -er -> often masculine (der).
What is the plural and Dative plural of "der Keller"?
The Nominative plural of der Keller is "die Keller" (pattern: -). In the Dative plural it becomes "den Kellern".
How does "der Keller" change in the Genitive, Accusative, and Dative?
As a strong masculine noun, "Keller" changes only in the Genitive singular (des Kellers); Accusative and Dative keep "Keller".