Singular
der
Kindergarten
nursery school
Plural: die Kindergärten
Why does the noun Kindergarten 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 Kindergarten
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der Kindergarten | ein Kindergarten | kein Kindergarten |
| Akkusativ | den Kindergarten | einen Kindergarten | keinen Kindergarten |
| Dativ | dem Kindergarten | einem Kindergarten | keinem Kindergarten |
| Genitiv | des Kindergartens | eines Kindergartens | keines Kindergartens |
| Nominativ | die Kindergärten | Kindergärten | keine Kindergärten |
| Akkusativ | die Kindergärten | Kindergärten | keine Kindergärten |
| Dativ | den Kindergärten | Kindergärten | keinen Kindergärten |
| Genitiv | der Kindergärten | Kindergärten | keiner Kindergärten |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Kindergarten in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Der neue Kindergarten ist groß.The new kindergarten is big. | Ein guter Kindergarten ist wichtig.A good kindergarten is important. | Kein Kindergarten ist hier.No kindergarten is here. |
| Akkusativ | Wir besuchen den Kindergarten.We visit the kindergarten. | Ich suche einen Kindergarten.I am looking for a kindergarten. | Sie findet keinen Kindergarten.She finds no kindergarten. |
| Dativ | Ich gehe zu dem Kindergarten.I go to the kindergarten. | Sie spielt in einem Kindergarten.She plays in a kindergarten. | Er arbeitet in keinem Kindergarten.He works in no kindergarten. |
| Genitiv | Der Name des Kindergartens ist lustig.The name of the kindergarten is funny. | Die Leitung eines Kindergartens ist wichtig.The management of a kindergarten is important. | Die Adresse keines Kindergartens ist bekannt.The address of no kindergarten is known. |
| Nominativ | Die schönen Kindergärten sind voll.The beautiful kindergartens are full. | Viele Kindergärten sind modern.Many kindergartens are modern. | Keine Kindergärten sind offen.No kindergartens are open. |
| Akkusativ | Sie bauen die neuen Kindergärten.They are building the new kindergartens. | Wir brauchen gute Kindergärten.We need good kindergartens. | Er kennt keine Kindergärten.He knows no kindergartens. |
| Dativ | Sie arbeiten in den Kindergärten.They work in the kindergartens. | Er hilft vielen Kindergärten.He helps many kindergartens. | Ich spende keinen Kindergärten.I donate to no kindergartens. |
| Genitiv | Die Regeln der Kindergärten sind klar.The rules of the kindergartens are clear. | Die Lage vieler Kindergärten ist gut.The location of many kindergartens is good. | Die Qualität keiner Kindergärten ist hoch.The quality of no kindergartens 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 Kindergarten?
It is der Kindergarten. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Kindergarten 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 Kindergarten?
The German noun Kindergarten is categorized as Elementary (A2) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.
What is the plural of der Kindergarten?
The plural form of der Kindergarten is die Kindergärten. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does der Kindergarten mean in English?
The German word der Kindergarten translates to “nursery school” in English.
How do you decline der Kindergarten?
Like all German nouns, Kindergarten changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: der Kindergarten
- Akkusativ: den Kindergarten
- Dativ: dem Kindergarten
- Genitiv: des Kindergartens
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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