Why does the noun Elf have the article die?
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 Elf
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | die Elf | eine Elf | keine Elf |
| Akkusativ | die Elf | eine Elf | keine Elf |
| Dativ | der Elf | einer Elf | keiner Elf |
| Genitiv | der Elf | einer Elf | keiner Elf |
| Nominativ | die Elfen | Elfen | keine Elfen |
| Akkusativ | die Elfen | Elfen | keine Elfen |
| Dativ | den Elfen | Elfen | keinen Elfen |
| Genitiv | der Elfen | Elfen | keiner Elfen |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Elf in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Die alte Elf ist sehr weise.The old elf is very wise. | Eine junge Elf kommt hierher.A young elf comes here. | Keine böse Elf lebt hier.No evil elf lives here. |
| Akkusativ | Ich sehe die schöne Elf dort.I see the beautiful elf there. | Er sucht eine alte Elf jetzt.He is looking for an old elf now. | Wir haben keine böse Elf gesehen.We have seen no evil elf. |
| Dativ | Ich helfe der jungen Elf gern.I like to help the young elf. | Er spricht mit einer alten Elf.He speaks with an old elf. | Ich gebe keiner bösen Elf Wasser.I give no evil elf water. |
| Genitiv | Das Haus der alten Elf ist schön.The house of the old elf is beautiful. | Das Lied einer jungen Elf klingt gut.The song of a young elf sounds good. | Die Magie keiner bösen Elf ist stark.The magic of no evil elf is strong. |
| Nominativ | Die kleinen Elfen spielen gern.The small elves like to play. | Schöne Elfen tanzen im Wald.Beautiful elves dance in the forest. | Keine traurigen Elfen sind hier.No sad elves are here. |
| Akkusativ | Wir treffen die netten Elfen bald.We will meet the nice elves soon. | Ich mag kleine Elfen sehr.I like small elves very much. | Sie kennt keine traurigen Elfen.She knows no sad elves. |
| Dativ | Er erzählt den kleinen Elfen Geschichten.He tells stories to the small elves. | Ich schenke guten Elfen Blumen.I give flowers to good elves. | Sie glaubt keinen bösen Elfen mehr.She no longer believes any evil elves. |
| Genitiv | Die Lieder der kleinen Elfen sind schön.The songs of the small elves are beautiful. | Die Weisheit guter Elfen ist bekannt.The wisdom of good elves is known. | Die Macht keiner bösen Elfen ist groß.The power of no evil elves is great. |
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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 Elf?
It is die Elf. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Elf is feminine. You should always learn the article together with the noun to ensure your German grammar is correct.
What is the plural of die Elf?
The plural form of die Elf is die Elfen. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does die Elf mean in English?
The German word die Elf translates to “eleven” in English.
How do you decline die Elf?
Like all German nouns, Elf changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: die Elf
- Akkusativ: die Elf
- Dativ: der Elf
- Genitiv: der Elf
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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