der Kuchen
cake / pastry
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 Kuchen | die Kuchen |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | den Kuchen | die Kuchen |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | dem Kuchen | den Kuchen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | des Kuchens | der Kuchen |
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 Kuchen | Kuchen |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | einen Kuchen | Kuchen |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | einem Kuchen | Kuchen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | eines Kuchens | Kuchen |
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 Kuchen | keine Kuchen |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | keinen Kuchen | keine Kuchen |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | keinem Kuchen | keinen Kuchen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | keines Kuchens | keiner Kuchen |
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 Kuchen | meine Kuchen |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | meinen Kuchen | meine Kuchen |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | meinem Kuchen | meinen Kuchen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | meines Kuchens | meiner Kuchen |
Why These Endings Work
Standard pattern for most masculine (der) and neuter (das) nouns: genitive singular ends in -s or -es.
- Plural "Kuchen" already ends in -n or -s, so Dative plural stays Kuchen.
Example Sentences in Context
Am Sonntag backe ich einen Kuchen für die Familie.
On Sunday I bake a cake for the family.
Der Geschmack des Kuchens gefällt unseren Gästen besonders gut.
Our guests especially like the taste of the cake.
Interactive Tools & Related Guides
More Nouns in Food & Drink
FAQs: der Kuchen
Is "Kuchen" der, die, or das in German?
"Kuchen" takes the masculine definite article "der" (der Kuchen). Gender cue: Nouns ending in -en (when not infinitives) are mostly masculine (der).
What is the plural and Dative plural of "der Kuchen"?
The Nominative plural of der Kuchen is "die Kuchen" (pattern: -). In the Dative plural it becomes "den Kuchen".
How does "der Kuchen" change in the Genitive, Accusative, and Dative?
As a strong masculine noun, "Kuchen" changes only in the Genitive singular (des Kuchens); Accusative and Dative keep "Kuchen".