der Chef
boss
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? | der Chef | die Chefs |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | den Chef | die Chefs |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | dem Chef | den Chefs |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | des Chefs | der Chefs |
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 Chef | Chefs |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | einen Chef | Chefs |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | einem Chef | Chefs |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | eines Chefs | Chefs |
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 Chef | keine Chefs |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | keinen Chef | keine Chefs |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | keinem Chef | keinen Chefs |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | keines Chefs | keiner Chefs |
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 Chef | meine Chefs |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | meinen Chef | meine Chefs |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | meinem Chef | meinen Chefs |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | meines Chefs | meiner Chefs |
Why These Endings Work
Standard pattern for most masculine (der) and neuter (das) nouns: genitive singular ends in -s or -es.
- Plural "Chefs" already ends in -n or -s, so Dative plural stays Chefs.
Example Sentences in Context
Der Chef ist heute nicht im Büro.
The boss is not in the office today.
Ich frage den Chef nach einem freien Tag.
I am asking the boss for a day off.
Mit dem Chef habe ich ein gutes Verhältnis.
I have a good relationship with the boss.
Interactive Tools & Related Guides
More Nouns in Professions & Roles
FAQs: der Chef
Is "Chef" der, die, or das in German?
"Chef" takes the masculine definite article "der" (der Chef). Gender cue: Natural male gender (der); female is die Chefin.
What is the plural and Dative plural of "der Chef"?
The Nominative plural of der Chef is "die Chefs" (pattern: -s). In the Dative plural it becomes "den Chefs".
How does "der Chef" change in the Genitive, Accusative, and Dative?
As a strong masculine noun, "Chef" changes only in the Genitive singular (des Chefs); Accusative and Dative keep "Chef".