Why does the noun Kiesel 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 Kiesel

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativder Kieselein Kieselkein Kiesel
Akkusativden Kieseleinen Kieselkeinen Kiesel
Dativdem Kieseleinem Kieselkeinem Kiesel
Genitivdes Kieselseines Kieselskeines Kiesels

Examples in context

Real sentences using Kiesel in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Der Kiesel ist sehr glatt.The pebble is very smooth.
Ein kleiner Kiesel liegt am Strand.A small pebble lies on the beach.
Kein großer Kiesel ist hier zu finden.No large pebble is to be found here.
Akkusativ
Ich sehe den Kiesel dort.I see the pebble there.
Er findet einen schönen Kiesel am Fluss.He finds a beautiful pebble by the river.
Wir sehen keinen Kiesel mehr.We don't see any pebble anymore.
Dativ
Ich spiele mit dem Kiesel.I play with the pebble.
Er sitzt auf einem großen Kiesel.He sits on a large pebble.
Ich gebe keinem Kiesel Namen.I give no pebble a name.
Genitiv
Die Farbe des Kiesels ist schön.The color of the pebble is beautiful.
Der Glanz eines kleinen Kiesels ist klar.The shine of a small pebble is clear.
Der Wert keines Kiesels ist hoch.The value of no pebble is high.

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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 Kiesel?

It is der Kiesel. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Kiesel is masculine. You should always learn the article together with the noun to ensure your German grammar is correct.

What is the plural of der Kiesel?

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

What does der Kiesel mean in English?

The German word der Kiesel translates to “pebble” in English.

How do you decline der Kiesel?

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

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.