Why does the noun Iris have the article die?

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 Iris

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativdie Iriseine Iriskeine Iris
Akkusativdie Iriseine Iriskeine Iris
Dativder Iriseiner Iriskeiner Iris
Genitivder Iriseiner Iriskeiner Iris

Examples in context

Real sentences using Iris in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Die blaue Iris ist schön.The blue iris is beautiful.
Eine Iris hat viele Farben.An iris has many colors.
Keine Iris ist gleich.No iris is the same.
Akkusativ
Ich sehe die grüne Iris.I see the green iris.
Er hat eine Iris untersucht.He examined an iris.
Sie hat keine Iris gesehen.She didn't see any iris.
Dativ
Ich gebe der Iris Aufmerksamkeit.I give attention to the iris.
Er hilft einer Iris beim Schutz.He helps an iris with protection.
Mit keiner Iris bin ich zufrieden.I am not satisfied with any iris.
Genitiv
Die Farbe der Iris ist einzigartig.The color of the iris is unique.
Die Struktur einer Iris ist komplex.The structure of an iris is complex.
Die Form keiner Iris gefällt mir.I don't like the shape of any iris.

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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 Iris?

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

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

What does die Iris mean in English?

The German word die Iris translates to “iris” in English.

How do you decline die Iris?

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

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.