Singular
der
Kanal
canal, channel
Plural: die Kanäle
Why does the noun Kanal 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 Kanal
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der Kanal | ein Kanal | kein Kanal |
| Akkusativ | den Kanal | einen Kanal | keinen Kanal |
| Dativ | dem Kanal | einem Kanal | keinem Kanal |
| Genitiv | des Kanals | eines Kanals | keines Kanals |
| Nominativ | die Kanäle | Kanäle | keine Kanäle |
| Akkusativ | die Kanäle | Kanäle | keine Kanäle |
| Dativ | den Kanälen | Kanälen | keinen Kanälen |
| Genitiv | der Kanäle | Kanäle | keiner Kanäle |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Kanal in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Der breite Kanal ist tief.The wide canal is deep. | Ein neuer Kanal ist geplant.A new canal is planned. | Kein alter Kanal ist offen.No old canal is open. |
| Akkusativ | Wir sehen den breiten Kanal.We see the wide canal. | Sie bauen einen neuen Kanal.They are building a new canal. | Ich finde keinen alten Kanal.I find no old canal. |
| Dativ | Ich fahre auf dem breiten Kanal.I drive on the wide canal. | Sie arbeitet an einem neuen Kanal.She works on a new canal. | Er schwimmt in keinem alten Kanal.He swims in no old canal. |
| Genitiv | Die Tiefe des breiten Kanals ist groß.The depth of the wide canal is great. | Der Bau eines neuen Kanals ist teuer.The construction of a new canal is expensive. | Die Geschichte keines alten Kanals ist bekannt.The history of no old canal is known. |
| Nominativ | Die vielen Kanäle sind wichtig.The many canals are important. | Kleine Kanäle sind nützlich.Small canals are useful. | Keine schmutzigen Kanäle sind hier.No dirty canals are here. |
| Akkusativ | Er kennt die vielen Kanäle.He knows the many canals. | Man braucht kleine Kanäle.One needs small canals. | Wir haben keine schmutzigen Kanäle.We have no dirty canals. |
| Dativ | Sie wohnen an den vielen Kanälen.They live by the many canals. | Mit kleinen Kanälen ist es besser.It is better with small canals. | Er spricht über keinen schmutzigen Kanälen.He talks about no dirty canals. |
| Genitiv | Die Ufer der vielen Kanäle sind grün.The banks of the many canals are green. | Die Reinigung kleiner Kanäle ist nötig.The cleaning of small canals is necessary. | Die Nutzung keiner schmutzigen Kanäle ist erlaubt.The use of no dirty canals is allowed. |
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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 Kanal?
It is der Kanal. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Kanal 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 Kanal?
The German noun Kanal is categorized as Upper-Intermediate (B2) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.
What is the plural of der Kanal?
The plural form of der Kanal is die Kanäle. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does der Kanal mean in English?
The German word der Kanal translates to “canal, channel” in English.
How do you decline der Kanal?
Like all German nouns, Kanal changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: der Kanal
- Akkusativ: den Kanal
- Dativ: dem Kanal
- Genitiv: des Kanals
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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