Why does the noun Alter have the article das?
This noun follows no general suffix rule — its gender is part of the core vocabulary you simply learn alongside the word.
Declension table for German noun Alter
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | das Alter | ein Alter | kein Alter |
| Akkusativ | das Alter | ein Alter | kein Alter |
| Dativ | dem Alter | einem Alter | keinem Alter |
| Genitiv | des Alters | eines Alters | keines Alters |
| Nominativ | die Alter | Alter | keine Alter |
| Akkusativ | die Alter | Alter | keine Alter |
| Dativ | den Altern | Altern | keinen Altern |
| Genitiv | der Alter | Alter | keiner Alter |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Alter in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Das hohe Alter hat auch Vorteile.The old age also has advantages. | Ein gewisses Alter ist nur eine Zahl.A certain age is just a number. | Kein hohes Alter ist ein Hindernis.No old age is an obstacle. |
| Akkusativ | Ich respektiere das hohe Alter.I respect the old age. | Er hat ein stolzes Alter erreicht.He has reached a proud age. | Sie fürchtet kein hohes Alter.She does not fear old age. |
| Dativ | Mit dem hohen Alter kommt Gelassenheit.With old age comes serenity. | Er begegnet einem fortgeschrittenen Alter mit Mut.He faces an advanced age with courage. | Bei keinem bestimmten Alter sollte man aufgeben.At no certain age should one give up. |
| Genitiv | Trotz des hohen Alters ist er fit.Despite his old age, he is fit. | Die Würde eines hohen Alters ist unantastbar.The dignity of an old age is inviolable. | Wegen keines hohen Alters hat er aufgehört.He did not stop because of any old age. |
| Nominativ | Die verschiedenen Alter bringen Weisheit.The different ages bring wisdom. | Verschiedene Alter haben ihre Herausforderungen.Different ages have their challenges. | Keine bestimmten Alter sind wirklich einfach.No particular ages are really easy. |
| Akkusativ | Wir betrachten die verschiedenen Alter.We consider the different ages. | Die Studie untersucht verschiedene Alter.The study examines different ages. | Er kennt keine besseren Alter.He knows no better ages. |
| Dativ | In den verschiedenen Altern lernt man viel.In the different ages one learns a lot. | Von jungen Altern kann man lernen.One can learn from young ages. | Mit keinen anderen Altern ist es vergleichbar.It is not comparable with any other ages. |
| Genitiv | Die Geschichte der vergangenen Alter ist interessant.The history of past ages is interesting. | Die Weisheit vieler Alter ist wertvoll.The wisdom of many ages is valuable. | Die Probleme keiner vergangenen Alter sind gelöst.The problems of no past ages are solved. |
GET THE APP
Practice das Alter in the app
Master das Alter (and 5,000+ other German nouns) with quizzes, smart review, and instant grammar tips.
- 5,000+ nouns with translations in 11 languages
- Quizzes by level, category, or your weakest words
- Snap a photo of any German text — extract nouns instantly
Frequently asked questions
Everything you might wonder about der, die, das — and the Der Artikel app.
Is it der, die, or das Alter?
It is das Alter. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Alter is neuter. You should always learn the article together with the noun to ensure your German grammar is correct.
What CEFR level is the word Alter?
The German noun Alter is categorized as Intermediate (B1) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.
What is the plural of das Alter?
The plural form of das Alter is die Alter. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does das Alter mean in English?
The German word das Alter translates to “age” in English.
How do you decline das Alter?
Like all German nouns, Alter changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: das Alter
- Akkusativ: das Alter
- Dativ: dem Alter
- Genitiv: des Alters
These changes are necessary because German uses cases to indicate the noun’s role in a sentence (such as the subject or object). Knowing these forms allows you to build grammatically correct sentences.
Browse by level
B1 Intermediate — broader topics & abstract terms
Explore →
Browse by topic
Time & Calendar
Explore →
BROWSE BY GENDER
Neuter nouns
Explore →
Browse by declension
Strong Standard declension — no extra -(e)n. The 96% majority.
Explore →