Why does the noun Goldfisch have the article der?

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 Goldfisch

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativder Goldfischein Goldfischkein Goldfisch
Akkusativden Goldfischeinen Goldfischkeinen Goldfisch
Dativdem Goldfischeinem Goldfischkeinem Goldfisch
Genitivdes Goldfischseines Goldfischskeines Goldfischs

Examples in context

Real sentences using Goldfisch in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Der rote Goldfisch ist schön.The red goldfish is beautiful.
Ein roter Goldfisch schwimmt.A red goldfish swims.
Kein Goldfisch ist hier.No goldfish is here.
Akkusativ
Ich sehe den roten Goldfisch.I see the red goldfish.
Er hat einen roten Goldfisch.He has a red goldfish.
Wir wollen keinen Goldfisch.We don't want any goldfish.
Dativ
Ich gebe dem roten Goldfisch Futter.I give food to the red goldfish.
Er hilft einem roten Goldfisch.He helps a red goldfish.
Ich spreche mit keinem Goldfisch.I don't speak with any goldfish.
Genitiv
Das Haus des roten Goldfischs ist neu.The house of the red goldfish is new.
Der Name eines roten Goldfischs ist lang.The name of a red goldfish is long.
Die Farbe keines Goldfischs ist unbekannt.The color of no goldfish is unknown.

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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 Goldfisch?

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

What is the plural of der Goldfisch?

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

What does der Goldfisch mean in English?

The German word der Goldfisch translates to “goldfish” in English.

How do you decline der Goldfisch?

Like all German nouns, Goldfisch changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
  • Nominativ: der Goldfisch
  • Akkusativ: den Goldfisch
  • Dativ: dem Goldfisch
  • Genitiv: des Goldfischs

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.