Why does the noun Finger have the article der?
Nouns formed from verbs with -er ending are mostly masculine. Look at the bolded -er in the noun above — that suffix is the giveaway.
Examples
der Lehrer (teacher), der Fahrer (driver), der Arbeiter (worker), der Schreiber (writer), der Spieler (player), der Maler (painter)
Exceptions
das Fenster (window), das Wasser (water), die Butter (butter), die Mutter (mother)
Declension table for German noun Finger
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der Finger | ein Finger | kein Finger |
| Akkusativ | den Finger | einen Finger | keinen Finger |
| Dativ | dem Finger | einem Finger | keinem Finger |
| Genitiv | des Fingers | eines Fingers | keines Fingers |
| Nominativ | die Finger | Finger | keine Finger |
| Akkusativ | die Finger | Finger | keine Finger |
| Dativ | den Fingern | Fingern | keinen Fingern |
| Genitiv | der Finger | Finger | keiner Finger |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Finger in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Der kleine Finger tut weh.The little finger hurts. | Ein langer Finger zeigt darauf.A long finger is pointing at it. | Kein einziger Finger ist gebrochen.Not a single finger is broken. |
| Akkusativ | Ich sehe den dicken Finger.I see the thick finger. | Er hat sich einen ganzen Finger verletzt.He injured a whole finger. | Ich brauche keinen weiteren Finger mehr.I don't need another finger. |
| Dativ | Mit dem gebrochenen Finger geht es nicht.It's not possible with the broken finger. | Er tippt mit einem einzigen Finger.He types with a single finger. | Ich kann mit keinem steifen Finger schreiben.I can't write with any stiff finger. |
| Genitiv | Die Spitze des linken Fingers blutet.The tip of the left finger is bleeding. | Das ist der Abdruck eines schmutzigen Fingers.That is the print of a dirty finger. | Die Beweglichkeit keines einzelnen Fingers ist eingeschränkt.The mobility of no single finger is restricted. |
| Nominativ | Die kalten Finger sind kalt.The cold fingers are cold. | Schmutzige Finger sind schmutzig.Dirty fingers are dirty. | Keine sauberen Finger sind sauber.No clean fingers are clean. |
| Akkusativ | Sie wäscht sich die schmutzigen Finger.She is washing her dirty fingers. | Er hat lange Finger.He has long fingers. | Ich sehe keine gebrochenen Finger.I see no broken fingers. |
| Dativ | Er trägt Ringe an den beiden Fingern.He wears rings on both fingers. | Sie isst mit bloßen Fingern.She eats with bare fingers. | Mit keinen steifen Fingern kann man gut greifen.With stiff fingers one can grip well with none. |
| Genitiv | Die Form der langen Finger ist schön.The shape of the long fingers is beautiful. | Die Abdrücke verschiedener Finger sind sichtbar.The prints of different fingers are visible. | Trotz keiner verletzten Finger hat er es geschafft.Despite no injured fingers, he managed it. |
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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 Finger?
It is der Finger. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Finger is masculine. You should always learn the article together with the noun to ensure your German grammar is correct.
What CEFR level is the word Finger?
The German noun Finger is categorized as Beginner (A1) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.
What is the plural of der Finger?
The plural form of der Finger is die Finger. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does der Finger mean in English?
The German word der Finger translates to “finger” in English.
How do you decline der Finger?
Like all German nouns, Finger changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: der Finger
- Akkusativ: den Finger
- Dativ: dem Finger
- Genitiv: des Fingers
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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