der Traum
dream
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 Traum | die Träume |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | den Traum | die Träume |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | dem Traum | den Träumen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | des Traumes | der Träume |
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 Traum | Träume |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | einen Traum | Träume |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | einem Traum | Träumen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | eines Traumes | Träume |
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 Traum | keine Träume |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | keinen Traum | keine Träume |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | keinem Traum | keinen Träumen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | keines Traumes | keiner Träume |
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 Traum | meine Träume |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | meinen Traum | meine Träume |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | meinem Traum | meinen Träumen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | meines Traumes | meiner Träume |
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: Träume → Träumen.
Example Sentences in Context
Mein Traum wäre ein kleines Haus am Meer.
My dream would be a small house by the sea.
Die Verwirklichung des Traumes dauerte zehn Jahre.
Making the dream come true took ten years.
Interactive Tools & Related Guides
More Nouns in Culture & Ideas
FAQs: der Traum
Is "Traum" der, die, or das in German?
"Traum" takes the masculine definite article "der" (der Traum). Gender cue: Lexical gender — memorize together with its article.
What is the plural and Dative plural of "der Traum"?
The Nominative plural of der Traum is "die Träume" (pattern: ¨-e). In the Dative plural it becomes "den Träumen".
How does "der Traum" change in the Genitive, Accusative, and Dative?
As a strong masculine noun, "Traum" changes only in the Genitive singular (des Traumes); Accusative and Dative keep "Traum".