der Winter
winter
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 Winter | die Winter |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | den Winter | die Winter |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | dem Winter | den Wintern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | des Winters | der Winter |
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 Winter | Winter |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | einen Winter | Winter |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | einem Winter | Wintern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | eines Winters | Winter |
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 Winter | keine Winter |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | keinen Winter | keine Winter |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | keinem Winter | keinen Wintern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | keines Winters | keiner Winter |
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 Winter | meine Winter |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | meinen Winter | meine Winter |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | meinem Winter | meinen Wintern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | meines Winters | meiner Winter |
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: Winter → Wintern.
Example Sentences in Context
Im Winter schneit es in den Bergen oft stark.
In winter it often snows heavily in the mountains.
Während des Winters tragen wir warme Mäntel.
During the winter we wear warm coats.
Interactive Tools & Related Guides
More Nouns in Time & Calendar
FAQs: der Winter
Is "Winter" der, die, or das in German?
"Winter" takes the masculine definite article "der" (der Winter). Gender cue: Seasons -> ALWAYS masculine (der).
What is the plural and Dative plural of "der Winter"?
The Nominative plural of der Winter is "die Winter" (pattern: -). In the Dative plural it becomes "den Wintern".
How does "der Winter" change in the Genitive, Accusative, and Dative?
As a strong masculine noun, "Winter" changes only in the Genitive singular (des Winters); Accusative and Dative keep "Winter".