der Koffer
suitcase
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 Koffer | die Koffer |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | den Koffer | die Koffer |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | dem Koffer | den Koffern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | des Koffers | der Koffer |
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 Koffer | Koffer |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | einen Koffer | Koffer |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | einem Koffer | Koffern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | eines Koffers | Koffer |
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 Koffer | keine Koffer |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | keinen Koffer | keine Koffer |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | keinem Koffer | keinen Koffern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | keines Koffers | keiner Koffer |
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 Koffer | meine Koffer |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | meinen Koffer | meine Koffer |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | meinem Koffer | meinen Koffern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | meines Koffers | meiner Koffer |
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: Koffer → Koffern.
Example Sentences in Context
Der Koffer ist zu schwer für das Flugzeug.
The suitcase is too heavy for the plane.
Ich packe heute Abend meinen Koffer.
I am packing my suitcase tonight.
In dem Koffer sind nur Bücher.
There are only books in the suitcase.
Interactive Tools & Related Guides
More Nouns in City & Travel
FAQs: der Koffer
Is "Koffer" der, die, or das in German?
"Koffer" takes the masculine definite article "der" (der Koffer). Gender cue: Ending -er -> often masculine (der).
What is the plural and Dative plural of "der Koffer"?
The Nominative plural of der Koffer is "die Koffer" (pattern: -). In the Dative plural it becomes "den Koffern".
How does "der Koffer" change in the Genitive, Accusative, and Dative?
As a strong masculine noun, "Koffer" changes only in the Genitive singular (des Koffers); Accusative and Dative keep "Koffer".