das Wort
word (individual)
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 Wort | die Wörter |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | das Wort | die Wörter |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | dem Wort | den Wörtern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | des Wortes | der Wörter |
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 Wort | Wörter |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | ein Wort | Wörter |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | einem Wort | Wörtern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | eines Wortes | Wörter |
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 Wort | keine Wörter |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | kein Wort | keine Wörter |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | keinem Wort | keinen Wörtern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | keines Wortes | keiner Wörter |
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 Wort | meine Wörter |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | mein Wort | meine Wörter |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | meinem Wort | meinen Wörtern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | meines Wortes | meiner Wörter |
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: Wörter → Wörtern.
Example Sentences in Context
Ich verstehe dieses Wort leider nicht.
Unfortunately, I don't understand this word.
Mit diesem Wort kannst du dich höflich bedanken.
You can thank someone politely with this word.
Interactive Tools & Related Guides
More Nouns in Study & Grammar
FAQs: das Wort
Is "Wort" der, die, or das in German?
"Wort" takes the neuter definite article "das" (das Wort). Gender cue: Plural Wörter = individual words; Worte = connected speech/words of wisdom.
What is the plural and Dative plural of "das Wort"?
The Nominative plural of das Wort is "die Wörter" (pattern: ¨-er). In the Dative plural it becomes "den Wörtern".
How does "das Wort" change in the Genitive, Accusative, and Dative?
As a strong neuter noun, "Wort" changes only in the Genitive singular (des Wortes); Accusative and Dative keep "Wort".