Why does the noun Gabel 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 Gabel

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativdie Gabeleine Gabelkeine Gabel
Akkusativdie Gabeleine Gabelkeine Gabel
Dativder Gabeleiner Gabelkeiner Gabel
Genitivder Gabeleiner Gabelkeiner Gabel

Examples in context

Real sentences using Gabel in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Die große Gabel ist neu.The big fork is new.
Eine kleine Gabel liegt da.A small fork is there.
Keine Gabel ist hier.No fork is here.
Akkusativ
Ich nehme die lange Gabel.I take the long fork.
Er braucht eine scharfe Gabel.He needs a sharp fork.
Wir haben keine Gabel.We don't have a fork.
Dativ
Ich esse mit der kleinen Gabel.I eat with the small fork.
Er hilft mit einer großen Gabel.He helps with a big fork.
Ich arbeite mit keiner Gabel.I work with no fork.
Genitiv
Der Stiel der alten Gabel ist kaputt.The handle of the old fork is broken.
Die Form einer schönen Gabel gefällt.The shape of a nice fork is pleasing.
Der Wert keiner Gabel ist hoch.The value of no fork is high.

GET THE APP

Practice die Gabel in the app

Master die Gabel (and 5,000+ other German nouns) with quizzes, smart review, and instant grammar tips.

  • 5,000+ nouns with translations in 11 languages
  • Quizzes by level, category, or your weakest words
  • Snap a photo of any German text — extract nouns instantly
Der Artikel app — quiz screen Der Artikel app — grammar rule tooltip

Frequently asked questions

Everything you might wonder about der, die, das — and the Der Artikel app.

Is it der, die, or das Gabel?

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

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

What does die Gabel mean in English?

The German word die Gabel translates to “fork” in English.

How do you decline die Gabel?

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

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.