Familienname

Q: Is it der, die, or das Familienname?

It is der Familienname. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Familienname is masculine. You should always learn the article together with the noun to ensure your German grammar is correct.

Q: What is the plural of der Familienname?

The plural form of der Familienname is die Familiennamen. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”

Q: What does der Familienname mean in English?

The German word der Familienname translates to “family name” in English.

Q: How do you decline der Familienname?

Like all German nouns, Familienname changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are: Nominativ: der Familienname Akkusativ: den Familiennamen Dativ: dem Familiennamen Genitiv: des Familiennamens 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.

family name

Plural: die Familiennamen

Mixed

Why does the noun Familienname 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 Familienname

How it changes across the four cases.

Case	Definite	Indefinite	Negative
Nominativ	der Familienname	ein Familienname	kein Familienname
Akkusativ	den Familiennamen	einen Familiennamen	keinen Familiennamen
Dativ	dem Familiennamen	einem Familiennamen	keinem Familiennamen
Genitiv	des Familiennamens	eines Familiennamens	keines Familiennamens
Nominativ	die Familiennamen	Familiennamen	keine Familiennamen
Akkusativ	die Familiennamen	Familiennamen	keine Familiennamen
Dativ	den Familiennamen	Familiennamen	keinen Familiennamen
Genitiv	der Familiennamen	Familiennamen	keiner Familiennamen

Examples in context

Real sentences using Familienname in different cases.

Case	Definite	Indefinite	Negative
Nominativ	Der alte Familienname ist bekannt.The old family name is known.	Ein neuer Familienname ist selten.A new family name is rare.	Kein langer Familienname ist einfach.No long family name is simple.
Akkusativ	Ich kenne den alten Familiennamen.I know the old family name.	Wir suchen einen neuen Familiennamen.We are looking for a new family name.	Er hat keinen bekannten Familiennamen.He has no known family name.
Dativ	Ich gebe dem alten Familiennamen Ehre.I give honor to the old family name.	Er gibt einem neuen Familiennamen Bedeutung.He gives meaning to a new family name.	Ich spreche über keinem langen Familiennamen nicht.I don't talk about any long family name.
Genitiv	Die Herkunft des alten Familiennamens ist klar.The origin of the old family name is clear.	Die Bedeutung eines neuen Familiennamens ist interessant.The meaning of a new family name is interesting.	Ich kenne die Geschichte keines bekannten Familiennamens nicht.I don't know the history of any known family name.
Nominativ	Die alten Familiennamen sind schön.The old family names are beautiful.	Einige Familiennamen sind kurz.Some family names are short.	Keine neuen Familiennamen gibt es.There are no new family names.
Akkusativ	Wir schreiben die alten Familiennamen.We write the old family names.	Ich sehe viele Familiennamen dort.I see many family names there.	Sie hat keine bekannten Familiennamen.She has no known family names.
Dativ	Wir sprechen über den alten Familiennamen.We talk about the old family names.	Ich denke an einigen Familiennamen.I think of some family names.	Er spricht mit keinen neuen Familiennamen nicht.He doesn't speak with any new family names.
Genitiv	Die Geschichte der alten Familiennamen ist lang.The history of the old family names is long.	Die Herkunft einiger Familiennamen ist unbekannt.The origin of some family names is unknown.	Ich kenne die Bedeutung keiner neuen Familiennamen nicht.I don't know the meaning of any new family names.

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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 Familienname?

It is der Familienname. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Familienname 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 Familienname?

The plural form of der Familienname is die Familiennamen. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”

What does der Familienname mean in English?

The German word der Familienname translates to “family name” in English.

How do you decline der Familienname?

Like all German nouns, Familienname changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:

Nominativ: der Familienname
Akkusativ: den Familiennamen
Dativ: dem Familiennamen
Genitiv: des Familiennamens

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.