Why does the noun Kaffee 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 Kaffee
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der Kaffee | ein Kaffee | kein Kaffee |
| Akkusativ | den Kaffee | einen Kaffee | keinen Kaffee |
| Dativ | dem Kaffee | einem Kaffee | keinem Kaffee |
| Nominativ | die Kaffees | Kaffees | keine Kaffees |
| Akkusativ | die Kaffees | Kaffees | keine Kaffees |
| Dativ | den Kaffees | Kaffees | keinen Kaffees |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Kaffee in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Der heiße Kaffee schmeckt gut.The hot coffee tastes good. | Ein heißer Kaffee ist lecker.A hot coffee is delicious. | Kein heißer Kaffee ist hier.No hot coffee is here. |
| Akkusativ | Ich trinke den heißen Kaffee.I drink the hot coffee. | Er möchte einen heißen Kaffee.He wants a hot coffee. | Sie trinkt keinen heißen Kaffee.She doesn't drink hot coffee. |
| Dativ | Ich gebe dem heißen Kaffee Zucker.I add sugar to the hot coffee. | Er fügt einem heißen Kaffee Milch hinzu.He adds milk to a hot coffee. | Sie gibt keinem heißen Kaffee Sahne.She gives no cream to any hot coffee. |
| Nominativ | Die heißen Kaffees sind fertig.The hot coffees are ready. | Heiße Kaffees sind beliebt.Hot coffees are popular. | Keine heißen Kaffees sind übrig.No hot coffees are left. |
| Akkusativ | Wir bestellen die heißen Kaffees.We order the hot coffees. | Ich mag heiße Kaffees sehr.I like hot coffees very much. | Er mag keine heißen Kaffees.He doesn't like hot coffees. |
| Dativ | Ich füge den heißen Kaffees Zucker hinzu.I add sugar to the hot coffees. | Er bietet heißen Kaffees Gebäck an.He offers pastries with hot coffees. | Sie bietet keinen heißen Kaffees Milch an.She offers no milk with hot coffees. |
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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 Kaffee?
It is der Kaffee. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Kaffee is masculine. You should always learn the article together with the noun to ensure your German grammar is correct.
What CEFR level is the word Kaffee?
The German noun Kaffee is categorized as Beginner (A1) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.
What is the plural of der Kaffee?
The plural form of der Kaffee is die Kaffees. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does der Kaffee mean in English?
The German word der Kaffee translates to “coffee” in English.
How do you decline der Kaffee?
Like all German nouns, Kaffee changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: der Kaffee
- Akkusativ: den Kaffee
- Dativ: dem Kaffee
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.
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Strong Standard declension — no extra -(e)n. The 96% majority.
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