Why does the noun Fledermaus 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 Fledermaus

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativdie Fledermauseine Fledermauskeine Fledermaus
Akkusativdie Fledermauseine Fledermauskeine Fledermaus
Dativder Fledermauseiner Fledermauskeiner Fledermaus
Genitivder Fledermauseiner Fledermauskeiner Fledermaus

Examples in context

Real sentences using Fledermaus in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Die alte Fledermaus schläft tief.The old bat sleeps deeply.
Eine große Fledermaus ist hier.A large bat is here.
Keine kleine Fledermaus rennt schnell.No small bat runs fast.
Akkusativ
Ich sehe die braune Fledermaus.I see the brown bat.
Wir suchen eine alte Fledermaus.We are looking for an old bat.
Er hat keine neue Fledermaus gefunden.He hasn't found a new bat.
Dativ
Ich helfe der kranken Fledermaus.I help the sick bat.
Sie gibt einer jungen Fledermaus Futter.She gives a young bat food.
Er spricht mit keiner wilden Fledermaus.He speaks with no wild bat.
Genitiv
Das Fell der jungen Fledermaus ist weich.The fur of the young bat is soft.
Die Höhle einer großen Fledermaus ist tief.The den of a large bat is deep.
Der Geruch keiner kleinen Fledermaus ist stark.The smell of no small bat is strong.

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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 Fledermaus?

It is die Fledermaus. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Fledermaus 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 Fledermaus?

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

What does die Fledermaus mean in English?

The German word die Fledermaus translates to “bat” in English.

How do you decline die Fledermaus?

Like all German nouns, Fledermaus changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
  • Nominativ: die Fledermaus
  • Akkusativ: die Fledermaus
  • Dativ: der Fledermaus
  • Genitiv: der Fledermaus

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.