Why does the noun Johannes 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 Johannes

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativder Johannesein Johanneskein Johannes
Akkusativden Johanneseinen Johanneskeinen Johannes
Dativdem Johanneseinem Johanneskeinem Johannes
Genitivdes Johanneseines Johanneskeines Johannes

Examples in context

Real sentences using Johannes in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Der kleine Johannes spielt hier.The little Johannes plays here.
Ein junger Johannes kommt bald.A young Johannes is coming soon.
Kein alter Johannes ist da.No old Johannes is there.
Akkusativ
Ich sehe den kleinen Johannes.I see the little Johannes.
Wir suchen einen jungen Johannes.We are looking for a young Johannes.
Ich kenne keinen alten Johannes.I know no old Johannes.
Dativ
Ich helfe dem kleinen Johannes.I help the little Johannes.
Ich spreche mit einem jungen Johannes.I speak with a young Johannes.
Ich gebe keinem alten Johannes kein Geld.I give no old Johannes money.
Genitiv
Das Buch des kleinen Johannes ist hier.The book of the little Johannes is here.
Der Name eines jungen Johannes ist schön.The name of a young Johannes is beautiful.
Die Stimme keines alten Johannes ist laut.The voice of no old Johannes is loud.

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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 Johannes?

It is der Johannes. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Johannes 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 Johannes?

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

What does der Johannes mean in English?

The German word der Johannes translates to “John” in English.

How do you decline der Johannes?

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

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.