der Teppich
rug / carpet
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 Teppich | die Teppiche |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | den Teppich | die Teppiche |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | dem Teppich | den Teppichen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | des Teppichs | der Teppiche |
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 Teppich | Teppiche |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | einen Teppich | Teppiche |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | einem Teppich | Teppichen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | eines Teppichs | Teppiche |
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 Teppich | keine Teppiche |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | keinen Teppich | keine Teppiche |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | keinem Teppich | keinen Teppichen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | keines Teppichs | keiner Teppiche |
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 Teppich | meine Teppiche |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | meinen Teppich | meine Teppiche |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | meinem Teppich | meinen Teppichen |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | meines Teppichs | meiner Teppiche |
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: Teppiche → Teppichen.
Example Sentences in Context
Der bunte Teppich liegt auf dem Boden.
The colorful rug lies on the floor.
Wir legen den neuen Teppich in die Mitte des Wohnzimmers.
We lay the new rug in the middle of the living room.
Interactive Tools & Related Guides
More Nouns in Home & Living
FAQs: der Teppich
Is "Teppich" der, die, or das in German?
"Teppich" takes the masculine definite article "der" (der Teppich). Gender cue: Suffix -ich -> masculine (der).
What is the plural and Dative plural of "der Teppich"?
The Nominative plural of der Teppich is "die Teppiche" (pattern: -e). In the Dative plural it becomes "den Teppichen".
How does "der Teppich" change in the Genitive, Accusative, and Dative?
As a strong masculine noun, "Teppich" changes only in the Genitive singular (des Teppichs); Accusative and Dative keep "Teppich".