der Monat
month
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 Monat | die Monate |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | den Monat | die Monate |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | dem Monat | den Monaten |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | des Monats | der Monate |
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 Monat | Monate |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | einen Monat | Monate |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | einem Monat | Monaten |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | eines Monats | Monate |
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 Monat | keine Monate |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | keinen Monat | keine Monate |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | keinem Monat | keinen Monaten |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | keines Monats | keiner Monate |
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 Monat | meine Monate |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | meinen Monat | meine Monate |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | meinem Monat | meinen Monaten |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | meines Monats | meiner Monate |
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: Monate → Monaten.
Example Sentences in Context
Der neue Monat beginnt mit einem Feiertag.
The new month begins with a public holiday.
Am Anfang des Monats bezahle ich die Miete.
I pay the rent at the beginning of the month.
Interactive Tools & Related Guides
More Nouns in Time & Calendar
FAQs: der Monat
Is "Monat" der, die, or das in German?
"Monat" takes the masculine definite article "der" (der Monat). Gender cue: Lexical gender — memorize together with its article.
What is the plural and Dative plural of "der Monat"?
The Nominative plural of der Monat is "die Monate" (pattern: -e). In the Dative plural it becomes "den Monaten".
How does "der Monat" change in the Genitive, Accusative, and Dative?
As a strong masculine noun, "Monat" changes only in the Genitive singular (des Monats); Accusative and Dative keep "Monat".