Singular
die
Differenz
difference
Plural: die Differenzen
Why does the noun Differenz have the article die?
Nouns ending in -anz or -enz are feminine.
Examples
die Eleganz (elegance), die Toleranz (tolerance), die Distanz (distance), die Existenz (existence), die Frequenz (frequency), die Konsequenz (consequence)
Exceptions
der Tanz (dance), der Kranz (wreath), der Schwanz (tail) - monosyllabic words
Declension table for German noun Differenz
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | die Differenz | eine Differenz | keine Differenz |
| Akkusativ | die Differenz | eine Differenz | keine Differenz |
| Dativ | der Differenz | einer Differenz | keiner Differenz |
| Genitiv | der Differenz | einer Differenz | keiner Differenz |
| Nominativ | die Differenzen | Differenzen | keine Differenzen |
| Akkusativ | die Differenzen | Differenzen | keine Differenzen |
| Dativ | den Differenzen | Differenzen | keinen Differenzen |
| Genitiv | der Differenzen | Differenzen | keiner Differenzen |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Differenz in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Die große Differenz ist klar.The big difference is clear. | Eine große Differenz besteht.A big difference exists. | Keine Differenz ist sichtbar.No difference is visible. |
| Akkusativ | Ich sehe die große Differenz.I see the big difference. | Er bemerkt eine große Differenz.He notices a big difference. | Wir finden keine Differenz.We find no difference. |
| Dativ | Ich rechne mit der großen Differenz.I count on the big difference. | Er spricht von einer großen Differenz.He talks about a big difference. | Sie denkt an keiner Differenz.She thinks of no difference. |
| Genitiv | Die Ursache der großen Differenz.The cause of the big difference. | Die Lösung einer großen Differenz.The solution to a big difference. | Die Größe keiner Differenz.The size of no difference. |
| Nominativ | Die großen Differenzen stören.The big differences bother. | Große Differenzen sind normal.Big differences are normal. | Keine Differenzen sind da.No differences are there. |
| Akkusativ | Wir erkennen die großen Differenzen.We recognize the big differences. | Ich sehe große Differenzen.I see big differences. | Sie kennt keine Differenzen.She knows no differences. |
| Dativ | Ich arbeite an den großen Differenzen.I work on the big differences. | Er spricht über großen Differenzen.He talks about big differences. | Sie denkt an keinen Differenzen.She thinks of no differences. |
| Genitiv | Die Gründe der großen Differenzen.The reasons for the big differences. | Die Folgen großer Differenzen.The consequences of big differences. | Die Lösung keiner Differenzen.The solution to no differences. |
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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 Differenz?
It is die Differenz. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Differenz is feminine. You should always learn the article together with the noun to ensure your German grammar is correct.
What CEFR level is the word Differenz?
The German noun Differenz is categorized as Upper-Intermediate (B2) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.
What is the plural of die Differenz?
The plural form of die Differenz is die Differenzen. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does die Differenz mean in English?
The German word die Differenz translates to “difference” in English.
How do you decline die Differenz?
Like all German nouns, Differenz changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: die Differenz
- Akkusativ: die Differenz
- Dativ: der Differenz
- Genitiv: der Differenz
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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