Why does the noun Knochen have the article die?
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 Knochen
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der Knochen | ein Knochen | kein Knochen |
| Akkusativ | den Knochen | einen Knochen | keinen Knochen |
| Dativ | dem Knochen | einem Knochen | keinem Knochen |
| Genitiv | des Knochens | eines Knochens | keines Knochens |
| Nominativ | die Knochen | Knochen | keine Knochen |
| Akkusativ | die Knochen | Knochen | keine Knochen |
| Dativ | den Knochen | Knochen | keinen Knochen |
| Genitiv | der Knochen | Knochen | keiner Knochen |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Knochen in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Der harte Knochen ist hart.The hard bone is hard. | Ein wichtiger Knochen ist wichtig.An important bone is vital. | Kein alter Knochen ist hier.No old bone is here. |
| Akkusativ | Ich sehe den neuen Knochen.I see the new bone. | Er hat einen harten Knochen.He has a hard bone. | Sie findet keinen gebrochenen Knochen.She finds no broken bone. |
| Dativ | Ich helfe dem schwachen Knochen.I help the weak bone. | Sie gibt einem neuen Knochen Kraft.She gives strength to a new bone. | Er hilft keinem gebrochenen Knochen.He helps no broken bone. |
| Genitiv | Die Farbe des alten Knochens ist hell.The color of the old bone is light. | Die Stärke eines eines starken Knochens ist groß.The strength of a strong bone is great. | Der Wert keines keines gebrochenen Knochens ist hoch.The value of no broken bone is high. |
| Nominativ | Die starken Knochen sind stark.The strong bones are strong. | Gesunde Knochen sind gesund.Healthy bones are healthy. | Keine kaputten Knochen sind kaputt.No broken bones are broken. |
| Akkusativ | Wir brauchen die starken Knochen.We need the strong bones. | Ich spüre alte Knochen.I feel old bones. | Er hat keine gesunden Knochen.He has no healthy bones. |
| Dativ | Ich helfe den schwachen Knochen.I help the weak bones. | Er gibt neuen Knochen Kraft.He gives strength to new bones. | Sie hilft keinen gebrochenen Knochen.She helps no broken bones. |
| Genitiv | Die Stärke der starken Knochen ist groß.The strength of the strong bones is great. | Die Funktion alter Knochen ist klar.The function of old bones is clear. | Der Wert keiner gebrochenen Knochen ist hoch.The value of no broken bones 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 Knochen?
It is die Knochen. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Knochen is feminine. You should always learn the article together with the noun to ensure your German grammar is correct.
What CEFR level is the word Knochen?
The German noun Knochen is categorized as Elementary (A2) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.
What is the plural of die Knochen?
The plural form of die Knochen is die Knochen. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does die Knochen mean in English?
The German word die Knochen translates to “bones” in English.
How do you decline die Knochen?
Like all German nouns, Knochen changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: der Knochen
- Akkusativ: den Knochen
- Dativ: dem Knochen
- Genitiv: des Knochens
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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