Why does the noun Alterung have the article die?

Nouns ending in -ung are always feminine. Look at the bolded -ung in the noun above — that suffix is the giveaway.

Examples

die Zeitung (newspaper), die Wohnung (apartment), die Bildung (education), die Hoffnung (hope), die Übung (exercise), die Meinung (opinion), die Erfahrung (experience)

Exceptions

der Sprung (jump), der Schwung (momentum) - these are verb stems, not the -ung suffix

Declension table for German noun Alterung

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativdie Alterungeine Alterungkeine Alterung
Akkusativdie Alterungeine Alterungkeine Alterung
Dativder Alterungeiner Alterungkeiner Alterung
Genitivder Alterungeiner Alterungkeiner Alterung

Examples in context

Real sentences using Alterung in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Die natürliche Alterung ist normal.The natural aging is normal.
Eine schnelle Alterung ist schlecht.A rapid aging is bad.
Keine Alterung stoppt ganz.No aging stops completely.
Akkusativ
Wir beobachten die natürliche Alterung genau.We observe the natural aging closely.
Man sieht eine schnelle Alterung oft.One often sees a rapid aging.
Er bemerkt keine Alterung mehr.He notices no aging anymore.
Dativ
Ich widme mich der natürlichen Alterung.I dedicate myself to natural aging.
Mit einer schnellen Alterung kämpft man.One fights with a rapid aging.
Sie gibt keiner Alterung eine Chance.She gives no aging a chance.
Genitiv
Der Prozess der natürlichen Alterung ist lang.The process of natural aging is long.
Die Ursache einer schnellen Alterung ist unklar.The cause of a rapid aging is unclear.
Der Grund keiner Alterung ist bekannt.The reason for no aging is known.

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Frequently asked questions

Everything you might wonder about der, die, das — and the Der Artikel app.

Is it der, die, or das Alterung?

It is die Alterung. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Alterung is feminine. You should always learn the article together with the noun to ensure your German grammar is correct.

What is the plural of die Alterung?

The noun Alterung is typically used in the singular form (Singularetantum) or has a plural form identical to the singular.

What does die Alterung mean in English?

The German word die Alterung translates to “aging” in English.

How do you decline die Alterung?

Like all German nouns, Alterung changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
  • Nominativ: die Alterung
  • Akkusativ: die Alterung
  • Dativ: der Alterung
  • Genitiv: der Alterung

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.