das Herz
heart
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 Herz | die Herzen |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | das Herz | die Herzen |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | dem Herzen | den Herzen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | des Herzens | der Herzen |
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 Herz | Herzen |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | ein Herz | Herzen |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | einem Herzen | Herzen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | eines Herzens | Herzen |
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 Herz | keine Herzen |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | kein Herz | keine Herzen |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | keinem Herzen | keinen Herzen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | keines Herzens | keiner Herzen |
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 Herz | meine Herzen |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | mein Herz | meine Herzen |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | meinem Herzen | meinen Herzen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | meines Herzens | meiner Herzen |
Why These Endings Work
Small group of nouns combining weak -(e)n endings with strong genitive -ns (e.g. der Name, der Gedanke, das Herz).
- Mixed neuter (das Herz): Nominative and Accusative stay Herz; Dative takes Herzen; Genitive takes Herzens.
- Plural "Herzen" already ends in -n or -s, so Dative plural stays Herzen.
Example Sentences in Context
Das Herz schlägt schneller beim Sport.
The heart beats faster during exercise.
Sie trägt ihr Kind tief im Herzen.
She carries her child deep in her heart.
Die Gesundheit des Herzens ist besonders wichtig.
The health of the heart is especially important.
Interactive Tools & Related Guides
More Nouns with Similar Declension
FAQs: das Herz
Is "Herz" der, die, or das in German?
"Herz" takes the neuter definite article "das" (das Herz). Gender cue: Unique neuter mixed noun: Nom/Akk das Herz, Dat dem Herzen, Gen des Herzens.
What is the plural and Dative plural of "das Herz"?
The Nominative plural of das Herz is "die Herzen" (pattern: -en). In the Dative plural it becomes "den Herzen".
How does "das Herz" change in the Genitive, Accusative, and Dative?
"Herz" belongs to the small mixed declension class: Nominative "das Herz", Accusative "das Herz", Dative "dem Herzen", and Genitive "des Herzens".