das Zitat
quote / citation
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 Zitat | die Zitate |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | das Zitat | die Zitate |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | dem Zitat | den Zitaten |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | des Zitats | der Zitate |
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 Zitat | Zitate |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | ein Zitat | Zitate |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | einem Zitat | Zitaten |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | eines Zitats | Zitate |
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 Zitat | keine Zitate |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | kein Zitat | keine Zitate |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | keinem Zitat | keinen Zitaten |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | keines Zitats | keiner Zitate |
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 Zitat | meine Zitate |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | mein Zitat | meine Zitate |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | meinem Zitat | meinen Zitaten |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | meines Zitats | meiner Zitate |
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: Zitate → Zitaten.
Example Sentences in Context
Sie beendete ihre Rede mit einem Zitat von Goethe.
She ended her speech with a quotation from Goethe.
Die Quelle des Zitats steht in der Fußnote.
The source of the quote is given in the footnote.
Interactive Tools & Related Guides
More Nouns in Study & Grammar
FAQs: das Zitat
Is "Zitat" der, die, or das in German?
"Zitat" takes the neuter definite article "das" (das Zitat). Gender cue: Lexical gender — memorize together with its article.
What is the plural and Dative plural of "das Zitat"?
The Nominative plural of das Zitat is "die Zitate" (pattern: -e). In the Dative plural it becomes "den Zitaten".
How does "das Zitat" change in the Genitive, Accusative, and Dative?
As a strong neuter noun, "Zitat" changes only in the Genitive singular (des Zitats); Accusative and Dative keep "Zitat".