Why does the noun Atom 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 Atom
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | das Atom | ein Atom | kein Atom |
| Akkusativ | das Atom | ein Atom | kein Atom |
| Dativ | dem Atom | einem Atom | keinem Atom |
| Genitiv | des Atoms | eines Atoms | keines Atoms |
| Nominativ | die Atome | Atome | keine Atome |
| Akkusativ | die Atome | Atome | keine Atome |
| Dativ | den Atomen | Atomen | keinen Atomen |
| Genitiv | der Atome | Atome | keiner Atome |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Atom in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Das kleine Atom ist klein.The small atom is tiny. | Ein neues Atom ist wichtig.A new atom is important. | Kein altes Atom ist stabil.No old atom is stable. |
| Akkusativ | Man spaltet das einzelne Atom.One splits the single atom. | Wir suchen ein stabiles Atom.We are looking for a stable atom. | Ich finde kein freies Atom.I don't find any free atom. |
| Dativ | Er forscht an dem stabilen Atom.He researches the stable atom. | Man gibt einem kleinen Atom Energie.One gives energy to a small atom. | Sie vertraut keinem instabilen Atom.She doesn't trust any unstable atom. |
| Genitiv | Die Größe des einzelnen Atoms ist wichtig.The size of the single atom is important. | Die Struktur eines eines neuen Atoms ist komplex.The structure of a new atom is complex. | Die Energie keines keines freien Atoms ist messbar.The energy of no free atom is measurable. |
| Nominativ | Die kleinen Atome sind winzig.The small atoms are tiny. | Gute Atome bilden Materie.Good atoms form matter. | Keine großen Atome sind sichtbar.No large atoms are visible. |
| Akkusativ | Sie untersuchen die kleinen Atome.They examine the small atoms. | Wir sehen neue Atome im Labor.We see new atoms in the lab. | Ich zähle keine großen Atome.I don't count any large atoms. |
| Dativ | Er arbeitet mit den neuen Atomen.He works with the new atoms. | Man gibt kleinen Atomen Energie.One gives energy to small atoms. | Ich helfe keinen instabilen Atomen.I don't help any unstable atoms. |
| Genitiv | Die Eigenschaften der kleinen Atome sind bekannt.The properties of the small atoms are known. | Die Anzahl neuer Atome ist riesig.The number of new atoms is huge. | Die Wirkung keiner großen Atome ist spürbar.The effect of no large atoms is noticeable. |
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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 Atom?
It is das Atom. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Atom 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 Atom?
The German noun Atom is categorized as Upper-Intermediate (B2) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.
What is the plural of das Atom?
The plural form of das Atom is die Atome. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does das Atom mean in English?
The German word das Atom translates to “atom” in English.
How do you decline das Atom?
Like all German nouns, Atom changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: das Atom
- Akkusativ: das Atom
- Dativ: dem Atom
- Genitiv: des Atoms
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.
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