der Finger
finger
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 Finger | die Finger |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | den Finger | die Finger |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | dem Finger | den Fingern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | des Fingers | der Finger |
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 Finger | Finger |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | einen Finger | Finger |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | einem Finger | Fingern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | eines Fingers | Finger |
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 Finger | keine Finger |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | keinen Finger | keine Finger |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | keinem Finger | keinen Fingern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | keines Fingers | keiner Finger |
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 Finger | meine Finger |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | meinen Finger | meine Finger |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | meinem Finger | meinen Fingern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | meines Fingers | meiner Finger |
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: Finger → Fingern.
Example Sentences in Context
Der Finger blutet ein bisschen.
The finger is bleeding a little.
Ich habe mir den Finger verbrannt.
I burned my finger.
Das Kind zeigt mit dem Finger auf den Hund.
The child points at the dog with its finger.
Interactive Tools & Related Guides
More Nouns in Body & Health
FAQs: der Finger
Is "Finger" der, die, or das in German?
"Finger" takes the masculine definite article "der" (der Finger). Gender cue: Ending -er -> often masculine (der).
What is the plural and Dative plural of "der Finger"?
The Nominative plural of der Finger is "die Finger" (pattern: -). In the Dative plural it becomes "den Fingern".
How does "der Finger" change in the Genitive, Accusative, and Dative?
As a strong masculine noun, "Finger" changes only in the Genitive singular (des Fingers); Accusative and Dative keep "Finger".