Why does the noun Gedicht have the article das?

Most nouns beginning with prefix Ge- are neuter.

Examples

das Gebäude (building), das Gespräch (conversation), das Geschenk (gift), das Getränk (drink), das Geschirr (dishes), das Gemüse (vegetables)

Exceptions

der Gebrauch (use), der Gedanke (thought), der Geruch (smell), der Geschmack (taste), der Gewinn (profit), die Gefahr (danger), die Geschichte (history), die Geduld (patience), die Gewalt (power)

Declension table for German noun Gedicht

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativdas Gedichtein Gedichtkein Gedicht
Akkusativdas Gedichtein Gedichtkein Gedicht
Dativdem Gedichteinem Gedichtkeinem Gedicht
Genitivdes Gedichteseines Gedichteskeines Gedichtes

Examples in context

Real sentences using Gedicht in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Das neue Gedicht ist schön.The new poem is beautiful.
Ein kurzes Gedicht ist gut.A short poem is good.
Kein langes Gedicht ist hier.No long poem is here.
Akkusativ
Ich lese das neue Gedicht.I am reading the new poem.
Er schreibt ein kurzes Gedicht.He is writing a short poem.
Sie mag kein trauriges Gedicht.She doesn't like a sad poem.
Dativ
Ich widme mich dem neuen Gedicht.I dedicate myself to the new poem.
Er arbeitet an einem schönen Gedicht.He is working on a beautiful poem.
Sie gibt keinem schlechten Gedicht Beachtung.She pays no attention to any bad poem.
Genitiv
Der Inhalt des neuen Gedichtes ist klar.The content of the new poem is clear.
Der Autor eines schönen Gedichtes ist bekannt.The author of a beautiful poem is known.
Die Botschaft keines schlechten Gedichtes ist gut.The message of no bad poem is good.

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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 Gedicht?

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

What CEFR level is the word Gedicht?

The German noun Gedicht is categorized as Elementary (A2) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.

What is the plural of das Gedicht?

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

What does das Gedicht mean in English?

The German word das Gedicht translates to “poem” in English.

How do you decline das Gedicht?

Like all German nouns, Gedicht changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
  • Nominativ: das Gedicht
  • Akkusativ: das Gedicht
  • Dativ: dem Gedicht
  • Genitiv: des Gedichtes

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.