Why does the noun Kapitalismus have the article der?

Nouns ending in -ismus (mostly abstract concepts) are always masculine. Look at the bolded -ismus in the noun above — that suffix is the giveaway.

Examples

der Kapitalismus (capitalism), der Kommunismus (communism), der Terrorismus (terrorism), der Tourismus (tourism), der Alkoholismus (alcoholism), der Optimismus (optimism)

Declension table for German noun Kapitalismus

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativder Kapitalismusein Kapitalismuskein Kapitalismus
Akkusativden Kapitalismuseinen Kapitalismuskeinen Kapitalismus
Dativdem Kapitalismuseinem Kapitalismuskeinem Kapitalismus
Genitivdes Kapitalismuseines Kapitalismuskeines Kapitalismus

Examples in context

Real sentences using Kapitalismus in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Der neue Kapitalismus ist komplex.The new capitalism is complex.
Ein neuer Kapitalismus beginnt jetzt.A new capitalism begins now.
Kein guter Kapitalismus existiert hier.No good capitalism exists here.
Akkusativ
Wir sehen den modernen Kapitalismus.We see the modern capitalism.
Er kritisiert einen alten Kapitalismus.He criticizes an old capitalism.
Sie mag keinen harten Kapitalismus.She doesn't like a harsh capitalism.
Dativ
Er dient dem globalen Kapitalismus.He serves global capitalism.
Sie hilft einem jungen Kapitalismus.She helps a young capitalism.
Ich glaube keinem alten Kapitalismus.I don't believe in an old capitalism.
Genitiv
Die Regeln des modernen Kapitalismus sind klar.The rules of modern capitalism are clear.
Das Ende eines alten Kapitalismus ist nah.The end of an old capitalism is near.
Die Zukunft keines guten Kapitalismus ist sicher.The future of no good capitalism is certain.

GET THE APP

Practice der Kapitalismus in the app

Master der Kapitalismus (and 5,000+ other German nouns) with quizzes, smart review, and instant grammar tips.

  • 5,000+ nouns with translations in 11 languages
  • Quizzes by level, category, or your weakest words
  • Snap a photo of any German text — extract nouns instantly
Der Artikel app — quiz screen Der Artikel app — grammar rule tooltip

Frequently asked questions

Everything you might wonder about der, die, das — and the Der Artikel app.

Is it der, die, or das Kapitalismus?

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

The German noun Kapitalismus is categorized as Upper-Intermediate (B2) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.

What is the plural of der Kapitalismus?

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

What does der Kapitalismus mean in English?

The German word der Kapitalismus translates to “capitalism” in English.

How do you decline der Kapitalismus?

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

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.