Why does the noun Dieb 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 Dieb
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der Dieb | ein Dieb | — |
| Akkusativ | den Dieb | einen Dieb | — |
| Dativ | dem Dieb | einem Dieb | — |
| Genitiv | des Diebs | eines Diebs | — |
| Nominativ | die Diebe | — Diebe | — |
| Akkusativ | die Diebe | — Diebe | — |
| Dativ | den Dieben | — Dieben | — |
| Genitiv | der Diebe | — Diebe | — |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Dieb 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 Dieb?
It is der Dieb. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Dieb 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 Dieb?
The plural form of der Dieb is die Diebe. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does der Dieb mean in English?
The German word der Dieb translates to “thief” in English.
How do you decline der Dieb?
Like all German nouns, Dieb changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: der Dieb
- Akkusativ: den Dieb
- Dativ: dem Dieb
- Genitiv: des Diebs
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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