das Messer
knife
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 Messer | die Messer |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | das Messer | die Messer |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | dem Messer | den Messern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | des Messers | der Messer |
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 Messer | Messer |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | ein Messer | Messer |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | einem Messer | Messern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | eines Messers | Messer |
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 Messer | keine Messer |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | kein Messer | keine Messer |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | keinem Messer | keinen Messern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | keines Messers | keiner Messer |
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 Messer | meine Messer |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | mein Messer | meine Messer |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | meinem Messer | meinen Messern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | meines Messers | meiner Messer |
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: Messer → Messern.
Example Sentences in Context
Das Messer ist sehr scharf.
The knife is very sharp.
Ich brauche ein Messer für das Brot.
I need a knife for the bread.
Schneide die Tomate mit dem Messer!
Cut the tomato with the knife!
Interactive Tools & Related Guides
More Nouns in Home & Living
FAQs: das Messer
Is "Messer" der, die, or das in German?
"Messer" takes the neuter definite article "das" (das Messer). Gender cue: Exception: ends in -er but neuter (das Messer).
What is the plural and Dative plural of "das Messer"?
The Nominative plural of das Messer is "die Messer" (pattern: -). In the Dative plural it becomes "den Messern".
How does "das Messer" change in the Genitive, Accusative, and Dative?
As a strong neuter noun, "Messer" changes only in the Genitive singular (des Messers); Accusative and Dative keep "Messer".