das Mädchen
girl
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 Mädchen | die Mädchen |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | das Mädchen | die Mädchen |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | dem Mädchen | den Mädchen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | des Mädchens | der Mädchen |
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 Mädchen | Mädchen |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | ein Mädchen | Mädchen |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | einem Mädchen | Mädchen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | eines Mädchens | Mädchen |
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 Mädchen | keine Mädchen |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | kein Mädchen | keine Mädchen |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | keinem Mädchen | keinen Mädchen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | keines Mädchens | keiner Mädchen |
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 Mädchen | meine Mädchen |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | mein Mädchen | meine Mädchen |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | meinem Mädchen | meinen Mädchen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | meines Mädchens | meiner Mädchen |
Why These Endings Work
Standard pattern for most masculine (der) and neuter (das) nouns: genitive singular ends in -s or -es.
- Plural "Mädchen" already ends in -n or -s, so Dative plural stays Mädchen.
Example Sentences in Context
Das Mädchen spielt nach der Schule im Garten.
The girl plays in the garden after school.
Die Lehrerin lobt das Mädchen für seine gute Antwort.
The teacher praises the girl for her good answer.
Interactive Tools & Related Guides
More Nouns in People & Family
FAQs: das Mädchen
Is "Mädchen" der, die, or das in German?
"Mädchen" takes the neuter definite article "das" (das Mädchen). Gender cue: Diminutive suffix -chen -> ALWAYS neuter (das), even for female persons.
What is the plural and Dative plural of "das Mädchen"?
The Nominative plural of das Mädchen is "die Mädchen" (pattern: -). In the Dative plural it becomes "den Mädchen".
How does "das Mädchen" change in the Genitive, Accusative, and Dative?
As a strong neuter noun, "Mädchen" changes only in the Genitive singular (des Mädchens); Accusative and Dative keep "Mädchen".