Why does the noun Eltern 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 Eltern
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | die Eltern | Eltern | keine Eltern |
| Akkusativ | die Eltern | Eltern | keine Eltern |
| Dativ | den Eltern | Eltern | keinen Eltern |
| Genitiv | der Eltern | Eltern | keiner Eltern |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Eltern in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Die neuen Eltern sind nett.The new parents are nice. | Nette Eltern warten draußen.Nice parents are waiting outside. | Heute kommen keine anderen Eltern.No other parents are coming today. |
| Akkusativ | Ich kenne die neuen Eltern gut.I know the new parents well. | Er sucht engagierte Eltern.He is looking for committed parents. | Wir haben keine wütenden Eltern gesehen.We saw no angry parents. |
| Dativ | Das Geschenk ist von den stolzen Eltern.The gift is from the proud parents. | Er hilft jungen Eltern gerne.He likes to help young parents. | Ich spreche mit keinen anderen Eltern.I am speaking with no other parents. |
| Genitiv | Das ist die Entscheidung der besorgten Eltern.That is the decision of the concerned parents. | Die Meinung erfahrener Eltern ist wichtig.The opinion of experienced parents is important. | Das ist die Aufgabe keiner anderen Eltern.This is the task of no other parents. |
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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 Eltern?
It is die Eltern. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Eltern 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 Eltern?
The German noun Eltern is categorized as Beginner (A1) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.
What is the plural of die Eltern?
The plural form of die Eltern is die Eltern. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does die Eltern mean in English?
The German word die Eltern translates to “” in English.
How do you decline die Eltern?
Like all German nouns, Eltern changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: die Eltern
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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