Why does the noun Besen have the article der?

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 Besen

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativder Besenein Besenkein Besen
Akkusativden Beseneinen Besenkeinen Besen
Dativdem Beseneinem Besenkeinem Besen
Genitivdes Besenseines Besenskeines Besens

Examples in context

Real sentences using Besen in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Der neue Besen ist sauber.The new broom is clean.
Ein kleiner Besen liegt hier.A small broom lies here.
Kein alter Besen ist zu finden.No old broom is to be found.
Akkusativ
Ich brauche den neuen Besen.I need the new broom.
Wir kaufen einen langen Besen.We are buying a long broom.
Sie findet keinen passenden Besen.She doesn't find a suitable broom.
Dativ
Ich kehre mit dem neuen Besen.I sweep with the new broom.
Er hilft mir mit einem kleinen Besen.He helps me with a small broom.
Sie ist unzufrieden mit keinem alten Besen.She is dissatisfied with no old broom.
Genitiv
Die Borsten des neuen Besens sind weich.The bristles of the new broom are soft.
Der Stiel eines guten Besens ist lang.The handle of a good broom is long.
Die Qualität keines billigen Besens ist schlecht.The quality of no cheap broom is bad.

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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 Besen?

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

What is the plural of der Besen?

The plural form of der Besen is die Besen. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”

What does der Besen mean in English?

The German word der Besen translates to “broom” in English.

How do you decline der Besen?

Like all German nouns, Besen changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
  • Nominativ: der Besen
  • Akkusativ: den Besen
  • Dativ: dem Besen
  • Genitiv: des Besens

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.