Singular
der
Bleistift
pencil
Plural: die Bleistifte
Why does the noun Bleistift 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 Bleistift
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der Bleistift | ein Bleistift | — |
| Akkusativ | den Bleistift | einen Bleistift | — |
| Dativ | dem Bleistift | einem Bleistift | — |
| Genitiv | des Bleistifts | eines Bleistifts | — |
| Nominativ | die Bleistifte | — Bleistifte | — |
| Akkusativ | die Bleistifte | — Bleistifte | — |
| Dativ | den Bleistiften | — Bleistiften | — |
| Genitiv | der Bleistifte | — Bleistifte | — |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Bleistift in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | — | ||
| Akkusativ | — | ||
| Dativ | — | ||
| Genitiv | — | ||
| Nominativ | — | ||
| Akkusativ | — | ||
| Dativ | — | ||
| Genitiv | — |
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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 Bleistift?
It is der Bleistift. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Bleistift 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 Bleistift?
The plural form of der Bleistift is die Bleistifte. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does der Bleistift mean in English?
The German word der Bleistift translates to “pencil” in English.
How do you decline der Bleistift?
Like all German nouns, Bleistift changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: der Bleistift
- Akkusativ: den Bleistift
- Dativ: dem Bleistift
- Genitiv: des Bleistifts
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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Strong Standard declension — no extra -(e)n. The 96% majority.
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