der Kellner
waiter / server
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 Kellner | die Kellner |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | den Kellner | die Kellner |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | dem Kellner | den Kellnern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | des Kellners | der Kellner |
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 Kellner | Kellner |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | einen Kellner | Kellner |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | einem Kellner | Kellnern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | eines Kellners | Kellner |
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 Kellner | keine Kellner |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | keinen Kellner | keine Kellner |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | keinem Kellner | keinen Kellnern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | keines Kellners | keiner Kellner |
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 Kellner | meine Kellner |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | meinen Kellner | meine Kellner |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | meinem Kellner | meinen Kellnern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | meines Kellners | meiner Kellner |
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: Kellner → Kellnern.
Example Sentences in Context
Der Kellner bringt uns die Speisekarte.
The waiter brings us the menu.
Wir rufen den Kellner und bezahlen.
We call the waiter and pay.
Interactive Tools & Related Guides
More Nouns in Professions & Roles
FAQs: der Kellner
Is "Kellner" der, die, or das in German?
"Kellner" takes the masculine definite article "der" (der Kellner). Gender cue: Agent suffix -er -> masculine (der), zero plural.
What is the plural and Dative plural of "der Kellner"?
The Nominative plural of der Kellner is "die Kellner" (pattern: -). In the Dative plural it becomes "den Kellnern".
How does "der Kellner" change in the Genitive, Accusative, and Dative?
As a strong masculine noun, "Kellner" changes only in the Genitive singular (des Kellners); Accusative and Dative keep "Kellner".