Singular
der
Kampf
fight, struggle
Plural: die Kämpfe
Why does the noun Kampf 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 Kampf
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der Kampf | ein Kampf | kein Kampf |
| Akkusativ | den Kampf | einen Kampf | keinen Kampf |
| Dativ | dem Kampf | einem Kampf | keinem Kampf |
| Genitiv | des Kampfes | eines Kampfes | keines Kampfes |
| Nominativ | die Kämpfe | Kämpfe | keine Kämpfe |
| Akkusativ | die Kämpfe | Kämpfe | keine Kämpfe |
| Dativ | den Kämpfen | Kämpfen | keinen Kämpfen |
| Genitiv | der Kämpfe | Kämpfe | keiner Kämpfe |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Kampf in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Der politische Kampf war sehr intensiv.The political struggle was very intense. | Ein harter Kampf liegt noch vor uns.A hard fight still lies ahead of us. | Das wird kein leichter Kampf sein.That will be no easy fight. |
| Akkusativ | Sie gewann den entscheidenden Kampf um den Titel.She won the decisive fight for the title. | Wir führen einen gerechten Kampf gegen die Ungerechtigkeit.We are waging a just fight against injustice. | Ich möchte keinen unnötigen Kampf provozieren.I don't want to provoke an unnecessary fight. |
| Dativ | Nach dem langen Kampf gab es einen Sieger.After the long fight, there was a winner. | Er stellte sich einem schwierigen Kampf mit Mut.He faced a difficult fight with courage. | Sie wich keinem direkten Kampf aus.She did not shy away from any direct fight. |
| Genitiv | Das Ende des zermürbenden Kampfes war absehbar.The end of the grueling fight was foreseeable. | Trotz eines verlorenen Kampfes gab er nicht auf.Despite a lost fight, he did not give up. | Er war sich keines bevorstehenden Kampfes bewusst.He was not aware of any impending fight. |
| Nominativ | Die sportlichen Kämpfe wurden fair ausgetragen.The athletic competitions were held fairly. | Erbitterte Kämpfe prägten die Geschichte.Fierce battles shaped the history. | Es gab keine offenen Kämpfe um die Ressourcen.There were no open fights for the resources. |
| Akkusativ | Er beobachtete die ideologischen Kämpfe aus der Ferne.He observed the ideological struggles from a distance. | Sie hat schon viele Kämpfe ausgefochten.She has already fought many battles. | Wir wollen keine bewaffneten Kämpfe mehr führen.We don't want to wage any more armed conflicts. |
| Dativ | Er war an den politischen Kämpfen beteiligt.He was involved in the political struggles. | Man lernt aus verlorenen Kämpfen am meisten.One learns the most from lost battles. | Er nahm an keinen illegalen Kämpfen teil.He did not participate in any illegal fights. |
| Genitiv | Die Chronik der brutalen Kämpfe ist lang.The chronicle of the brutal fights is long. | Er ist ein Veteran zahlreicher Kämpfe.He is a veteran of numerous battles. | Die Erinnerung keiner vergangenen Kämpfe verblasst.The memory of no past struggles is fading. |
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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 Kampf?
It is der Kampf. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Kampf 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 Kampf?
The German noun Kampf is categorized as Upper-Intermediate (B2) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.
What is the plural of der Kampf?
The plural form of der Kampf is die Kämpfe. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does der Kampf mean in English?
The German word der Kampf translates to “fight, struggle” in English.
How do you decline der Kampf?
Like all German nouns, Kampf changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: der Kampf
- Akkusativ: den Kampf
- Dativ: dem Kampf
- Genitiv: des Kampfes
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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