der Spiegel
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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 Spiegel | die Spiegel |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | den Spiegel | die Spiegel |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | dem Spiegel | den Spiegeln |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | des Spiegels | der Spiegel |
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 Spiegel | Spiegel |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | einen Spiegel | Spiegel |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | einem Spiegel | Spiegeln |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | eines Spiegels | Spiegel |
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 Spiegel | keine Spiegel |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | keinen Spiegel | keine Spiegel |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | keinem Spiegel | keinen Spiegeln |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | keines Spiegels | keiner Spiegel |
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 Spiegel | meine Spiegel |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | meinen Spiegel | meine Spiegel |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | meinem Spiegel | meinen Spiegeln |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | meines Spiegels | meiner Spiegel |
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: Spiegel → Spiegeln.
Example Sentences in Context
Im Flur hängt ein großer Spiegel.
A big mirror hangs in the hallway.
Wir hängen den großen Spiegel an die Wand im Flur.
We hang the large mirror on the wall in the hallway.
Interactive Tools & Related Guides
More Nouns in Home & Living
FAQs: der Spiegel
Is "Spiegel" der, die, or das in German?
"Spiegel" takes the masculine definite article "der" (der Spiegel). Gender cue: Lexical gender — memorize together with its article.
What is the plural and Dative plural of "der Spiegel"?
The Nominative plural of der Spiegel is "die Spiegel" (pattern: -). In the Dative plural it becomes "den Spiegeln".
How does "der Spiegel" change in the Genitive, Accusative, and Dative?
As a strong masculine noun, "Spiegel" changes only in the Genitive singular (des Spiegels); Accusative and Dative keep "Spiegel".