der Schlüssel
key
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 Schlüssel | die Schlüssel |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | den Schlüssel | die Schlüssel |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | dem Schlüssel | den Schlüsseln |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | des Schlüssels | der Schlüssel |
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 Schlüssel | Schlüssel |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | einen Schlüssel | Schlüssel |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | einem Schlüssel | Schlüsseln |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | eines Schlüssels | Schlüssel |
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 Schlüssel | keine Schlüssel |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | keinen Schlüssel | keine Schlüssel |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | keinem Schlüssel | keinen Schlüsseln |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | keines Schlüssels | keiner Schlüssel |
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 Schlüssel | meine Schlüssel |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | meinen Schlüssel | meine Schlüssel |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | meinem Schlüssel | meinen Schlüsseln |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | meines Schlüssels | meiner Schlüssel |
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: Schlüssel → Schlüsseln.
Example Sentences in Context
Hier ist Ihr Schlüssel.
Here is your key.
Ich lege den Schlüssel immer neben die Tasche.
I always put the key next to the bag.
Interactive Tools & Related Guides
More Nouns in Home & Living
FAQs: der Schlüssel
Is "Schlüssel" der, die, or das in German?
"Schlüssel" takes the masculine definite article "der" (der Schlüssel). Gender cue: Many nouns in -el are masculine (der) with zero plural.
What is the plural and Dative plural of "der Schlüssel"?
The Nominative plural of der Schlüssel is "die Schlüssel" (pattern: -). In the Dative plural it becomes "den Schlüsseln".
How does "der Schlüssel" change in the Genitive, Accusative, and Dative?
As a strong masculine noun, "Schlüssel" changes only in the Genitive singular (des Schlüssels); Accusative and Dative keep "Schlüssel".