das Lied
song
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 Lied | die Lieder |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | das Lied | die Lieder |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | dem Lied | den Liedern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | des Liedes | der Lieder |
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 Lied | Lieder |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | ein Lied | Lieder |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | einem Lied | Liedern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | eines Liedes | Lieder |
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 Lied | keine Lieder |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | kein Lied | keine Lieder |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | keinem Lied | keinen Liedern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | keines Liedes | keiner Lieder |
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 Lied | meine Lieder |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | mein Lied | meine Lieder |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | meinem Lied | meinen Liedern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | meines Liedes | meiner Lieder |
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: Lieder → Liedern.
Example Sentences in Context
Das Lied läuft gerade überall im Radio.
The song is playing everywhere on the radio right now.
Wir kennen das Lied schon aus unserer Kindheit.
We already know the song from our childhood.
Interactive Tools & Related Guides
More Nouns in Culture & Ideas
FAQs: das Lied
Is "Lied" der, die, or das in German?
"Lied" takes the neuter definite article "das" (das Lied). Gender cue: Lexical gender — memorize together with its article.
What is the plural and Dative plural of "das Lied"?
The Nominative plural of das Lied is "die Lieder" (pattern: -er). In the Dative plural it becomes "den Liedern".
How does "das Lied" change in the Genitive, Accusative, and Dative?
As a strong neuter noun, "Lied" changes only in the Genitive singular (des Liedes); Accusative and Dative keep "Lied".