das Bein
leg
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? | das Bein | die Beine |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | das Bein | die Beine |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | dem Bein | den Beinen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | des Beines | der Beine |
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 Bein | Beine |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | ein Bein | Beine |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | einem Bein | Beinen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | eines Beines | Beine |
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 Bein | keine Beine |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | kein Bein | keine Beine |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | keinem Bein | keinen Beinen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | keines Beines | keiner Beine |
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 Bein | meine Beine |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | mein Bein | meine Beine |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | meinem Bein | meinen Beinen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | meines Beines | meiner Beine |
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: Beine → Beinen.
Example Sentences in Context
Nach dem langen Lauf tut mir das Bein weh.
My leg hurts after the long run.
Die Ärztin untersucht das Bein sehr sorgfältig.
The doctor examines the leg very carefully.
Interactive Tools & Related Guides
More Nouns in Body & Health
FAQs: das Bein
Is "Bein" der, die, or das in German?
"Bein" takes the neuter definite article "das" (das Bein). Gender cue: Lexical gender — memorize together with its article.
What is the plural and Dative plural of "das Bein"?
The Nominative plural of das Bein is "die Beine" (pattern: -e). In the Dative plural it becomes "den Beinen".
How does "das Bein" change in the Genitive, Accusative, and Dative?
As a strong neuter noun, "Bein" changes only in the Genitive singular (des Beines); Accusative and Dative keep "Bein".