der Kopf
head
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 Kopf | die Köpfe |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | den Kopf | die Köpfe |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | dem Kopf | den Köpfen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | des Kopfes | der Köpfe |
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 Kopf | Köpfe |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | einen Kopf | Köpfe |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | einem Kopf | Köpfen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | eines Kopfes | Köpfe |
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 Kopf | keine Köpfe |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | keinen Kopf | keine Köpfe |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | keinem Kopf | keinen Köpfen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | keines Kopfes | keiner Köpfe |
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 Kopf | meine Köpfe |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | meinen Kopf | meine Köpfe |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | meinem Kopf | meinen Köpfen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | meines Kopfes | meiner Köpfe |
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: Köpfe → Köpfen.
Example Sentences in Context
Mein Kopf tut weh.
My head hurts.
Die Ärztin untersucht den Kopf sehr sorgfältig.
The doctor examines the head very carefully.
Interactive Tools & Related Guides
More Nouns in Body & Health
FAQs: der Kopf
Is "Kopf" der, die, or das in German?
"Kopf" takes the masculine definite article "der" (der Kopf). Gender cue: Lexical gender — memorize together with its article.
What is the plural and Dative plural of "der Kopf"?
The Nominative plural of der Kopf is "die Köpfe" (pattern: ¨-e). In the Dative plural it becomes "den Köpfen".
How does "der Kopf" change in the Genitive, Accusative, and Dative?
As a strong masculine noun, "Kopf" changes only in the Genitive singular (des Kopfes); Accusative and Dative keep "Kopf".