Singular
die
Generation
generation
Plural: die Generationen
Why does the noun Generation have the article die?
Nouns ending in -ion or -tion are feminine. Look at the bolded -ion in the noun above — that suffix is the giveaway.
Examples
die Nation (nation), die Situation (situation), die Religion (religion), die Information (information), die Kommunikation (communication), die Tradition (tradition)
Exceptions
der Spion (spy), der Skorpion (scorpion) - these refer to people/animals
Declension table for German noun Generation
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | die Generation | eine Generation | keine Generation |
| Akkusativ | die Generation | eine Generation | keine Generation |
| Dativ | der Generation | einer Generation | keiner Generation |
| Genitiv | der Generation | einer Generation | keiner Generation |
| Nominativ | die Generationen | Generationen | keine Generationen |
| Akkusativ | die Generationen | Generationen | keine Generationen |
| Dativ | den Generationen | Generationen | keinen Generationen |
| Genitiv | der Generationen | Generationen | keiner Generationen |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Generation in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Die junge Generation lernt schnell.The young generation learns quickly. | Eine neue Generation kommt bald.A new generation is coming soon. | Keine alte Generation bleibt hier.No old generation stays here. |
| Akkusativ | Ich sehe die junge Generation.I see the young generation. | Er trifft eine neue Generation.He meets a new generation. | Wir kennen keine alte Generation.We know no old generation. |
| Dativ | Ich spreche mit der jungen Generation.I speak with the young generation. | Mit einer neuen Generation ist es anders.With a new generation, it is different. | Ich helfe keiner alten Generation.I don't help any old generation. |
| Genitiv | Die Zukunft der jungen Generation ist wichtig.The future of the young generation is important. | Die Hoffnung einer neuen Generation ist groß.The hope of a new generation is great. | Die Meinung keiner alten Generation zählt.The opinion of no old generation counts. |
| Nominativ | Die jungen Generationen sind aktiv.The young generations are active. | Viele Generationen leben zusammen.Many generations live together. | Keine alten Generationen sind hier.No old generations are here. |
| Akkusativ | Wir brauchen die jungen Generationen.We need the young generations. | Ich besuche viele Generationen.I visit many generations. | Sie kennt keine alten Generationen.She knows no old generations. |
| Dativ | Ich gebe den jungen Generationen eine Chance.I give the young generations a chance. | Er hilft vielen Generationen.He helps many generations. | Ich vertraue keinen alten Generationen.I don't trust any old generations. |
| Genitiv | Die Geschichte der jungen Generationen ist interessant.The history of the young generations is interesting. | Die Probleme vieler Generationen sind bekannt.The problems of many generations are known. | Die Sorgen keiner alten Generationen sind wichtig.The worries of no old generations are important. |
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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 Generation?
It is die Generation. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Generation is feminine. You should always learn the article together with the noun to ensure your German grammar is correct.
What CEFR level is the word Generation?
The German noun Generation is categorized as Intermediate (B1) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.
What is the plural of die Generation?
The plural form of die Generation is die Generationen. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does die Generation mean in English?
The German word die Generation translates to “generation” in English.
How do you decline die Generation?
Like all German nouns, Generation changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: die Generation
- Akkusativ: die Generation
- Dativ: der Generation
- Genitiv: der Generation
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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Strong Standard declension — no extra -(e)n. The 96% majority.
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