Why does the noun Helligkeit have the article die?

Nouns ending in -keit are always feminine. Look at the bolded -keit in the noun above — that suffix is the giveaway.

Examples

die Möglichkeit (possibility), die Freundlichkeit (friendliness), die Geschwindigkeit (speed), die Schwierigkeit (difficulty), die Fähigkeit (ability)

Declension table for German noun Helligkeit

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativdie Helligkeiteine Helligkeitkeine Helligkeit
Akkusativdie Helligkeiteine Helligkeitkeine Helligkeit
Dativder Helligkeiteiner Helligkeitkeiner Helligkeit
Genitivder Helligkeiteiner Helligkeitkeiner Helligkeit

Examples in context

Real sentences using Helligkeit in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Die starke Helligkeit ist angenehm.The strong brightness is pleasant.
Eine gute Helligkeit ist wichtig.A good brightness is important.
Keine geringe Helligkeit ist hier.No low brightness is here.
Akkusativ
Wir spüren die starke Helligkeit.We feel the strong brightness.
Ich suche eine gute Helligkeit.I am looking for a good brightness.
Ich habe keine geringe Helligkeit.I have no low brightness.
Dativ
Ich begegne der starken Helligkeit.I encounter the strong brightness.
Ich rechne mit einer guten Helligkeit.I expect a good brightness.
Ich helfe keiner geringen Helligkeit.I help no low brightness.
Genitiv
Die Gefahr der starken Helligkeit ist real.The danger of the strong brightness is real.
Der Beginn einer guten Helligkeit ist schwer.The beginning of a good brightness is difficult.
Der Mangel keiner geringen Helligkeit ist gut.The lack of any low brightness 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 Helligkeit?

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

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

What does die Helligkeit mean in English?

The German word die Helligkeit translates to “brightness” in English.

How do you decline die Helligkeit?

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

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.