Singular
das
Kaninchen
rabbit
Plural: die Kaninchen
Why does the noun Kaninchen have the article das?
All nouns with diminutive -chen ending are neuter. Look at the bolded -chen in the noun above — that suffix is the giveaway.
Examples
das Mädchen (girl), das Brötchen (bread roll), das Häuschen (little house), das Kätzchen (kitten), das Hündchen (puppy), das Büchlein (booklet)
Exceptions
No exceptions - this rule is absolute
Declension table for German noun Kaninchen
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | das Kaninchen | ein Kaninchen | kein Kaninchen |
| Akkusativ | das Kaninchen | ein Kaninchen | kein Kaninchen |
| Dativ | dem Kaninchen | einem Kaninchen | keinem Kaninchen |
| Genitiv | des Kaninchens | eines Kaninchens | keines Kaninchens |
| Nominativ | die Kaninchen | Kaninchen | keine Kaninchen |
| Akkusativ | die Kaninchen | Kaninchen | keine Kaninchen |
| Dativ | den Kaninchen | Kaninchen | keinen Kaninchen |
| Genitiv | der Kaninchen | Kaninchen | keiner Kaninchen |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Kaninchen in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Das kleine Kaninchen hoppelt schnell.The small rabbit hops quickly. | Ein Kaninchen frisst eine Karotte.A rabbit eats a carrot. | Kein Kaninchen ist im Garten.No rabbit is in the garden. |
| Akkusativ | Ich sehe das süße Kaninchen.I see the cute rabbit. | Er füttert ein kleines Kaninchen.He feeds a small rabbit. | Wir haben kein Kaninchen zu Hause.We have no rabbit at home. |
| Dativ | Ich gebe dem Kaninchen Futter.I give food to the rabbit. | Er hilft einem kranken Kaninchen.He helps a sick rabbit. | Ich spreche mit keinem Kaninchen.I speak with no rabbit. |
| Genitiv | Das ist das Fell des Kaninchens.That is the fur of the rabbit. | Das ist das Nest eines Kaninchens.That is the nest of a rabbit. | Ich sehe das Haus keines Kaninchens.I see the house of no rabbit. |
| Nominativ | Die Kaninchen spielen im Gras.The rabbits play in the grass. | Junge Kaninchen sind sehr süß.Young rabbits are very cute. | Keine Kaninchen sind im Käfig.No rabbits are in the cage. |
| Akkusativ | Sie mag die weißen Kaninchen.She likes the white rabbits. | Ich sehe viele Kaninchen dort.I see many rabbits there. | Ich habe keine Kaninchen im Stall.I have no rabbits in the stable. |
| Dativ | Ich helfe den Kaninchen gern.I like to help the rabbits. | Er gibt vielen Kaninchen Wasser.He gives water to many rabbits. | Ich spiele mit keinen Kaninchen.I play with no rabbits. |
| Genitiv | Die Ohren der Kaninchen sind lang.The ears of the rabbits are long. | Das ist der Bau wilder Kaninchen.That is the burrow of wild rabbits. | Ich kenne die Farbe keiner Kaninchen.I know the color of no rabbits. |
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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 Kaninchen?
It is das Kaninchen. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Kaninchen is neuter. You should always learn the article together with the noun to ensure your German grammar is correct.
What CEFR level is the word Kaninchen?
The German noun Kaninchen is categorized as Elementary (A2) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.
What is the plural of das Kaninchen?
The plural form of das Kaninchen is die Kaninchen. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does das Kaninchen mean in English?
The German word das Kaninchen translates to “rabbit” in English.
How do you decline das Kaninchen?
Like all German nouns, Kaninchen changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: das Kaninchen
- Akkusativ: das Kaninchen
- Dativ: dem Kaninchen
- Genitiv: des Kaninchens
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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