der Herbst
autumn / fall
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 Herbst | die Herbste |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | den Herbst | die Herbste |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | dem Herbst | den Herbsten |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | des Herbstes | der Herbste |
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 Herbst | Herbste |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | einen Herbst | Herbste |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | einem Herbst | Herbsten |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | eines Herbstes | Herbste |
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 Herbst | keine Herbste |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | keinen Herbst | keine Herbste |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | keinem Herbst | keinen Herbsten |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | keines Herbstes | keiner Herbste |
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 Herbst | meine Herbste |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | meinen Herbst | meine Herbste |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | meinem Herbst | meinen Herbsten |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | meines Herbstes | meiner Herbste |
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: Herbste → Herbsten.
Example Sentences in Context
Im Herbst fallen die bunten Blätter von den Bäumen.
In autumn the colorful leaves fall from the trees.
Ich mag den Herbst wegen der klaren Luft.
I like autumn because of the crisp air.
Interactive Tools & Related Guides
More Nouns in Time & Calendar
FAQs: der Herbst
Is "Herbst" der, die, or das in German?
"Herbst" takes the masculine definite article "der" (der Herbst). Gender cue: Seasons -> ALWAYS masculine (der).
What is the plural and Dative plural of "der Herbst"?
The Nominative plural of der Herbst is "die Herbste" (pattern: -e). In the Dative plural it becomes "den Herbsten".
How does "der Herbst" change in the Genitive, Accusative, and Dative?
As a strong masculine noun, "Herbst" changes only in the Genitive singular (des Herbstes); Accusative and Dative keep "Herbst".