Why does the noun Gleis have the article das?

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 Gleis

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativdas Gleisein Gleiskein Gleis
Akkusativdas Gleisein Gleiskein Gleis
DativGleiseinem Gleiskeinem Gleis
Genitivdes Gleiseseines Gleiseskeines Gleises

Examples in context

Real sentences using Gleis in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Das dritte Gleis ist frei.The third track is free.
Ein neues Gleis wird gebaut.A new track is being built.
Kein Gleis ist besetzt.No track is occupied.
Akkusativ
Ich suche das richtige Gleis.I am looking for the right track.
Ich finde ein Gleis.I find a track.
Ich sehe kein Gleis.I see no track.
Dativ
Ich warte an Gleis.I am waiting at the track.
Ich stehe an einem Gleis.I am standing at a track.
Ich stehe an keinem Gleis.I am standing at no track.
Genitiv
Die Nummer des Gleises ist wichtig.The number of the track is important.
Die Nummer eines Gleises ist wichtig.The number of a track is important.
Die Nummer keines Gleises ist bekannt.The number of no track is known.

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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 Gleis?

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

What is the plural of das Gleis?

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

What does das Gleis mean in English?

The German word das Gleis translates to “track” in English.

How do you decline das Gleis?

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

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.