Why does the noun Koch have the article der?

Default/male form of professions are masculine.

Examples

der Arzt (doctor), der Lehrer (teacher), der Koch (cook), der Polizist (policeman), der Ingenieur (engineer), der Anwalt (lawyer)

Declension table for German noun Koch

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativder Kochein Kochkein Koch
Akkusativden Kocheinen Kochkeinen Koch
Dativdem Kocheinem Kochkeinem Koch
Genitivdes Kochseines Kochskeines Kochs

Examples in context

Real sentences using Koch in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Der alte Koch kocht gut.The old cook cooks well.
Ein neuer Koch sucht Arbeit.A new cook is looking for work.
Kein schlechter Koch ist hier.No bad cook is here.
Akkusativ
Ich sehe den neuen Koch.I see the new cook.
Wir suchen einen guten Koch.We are looking for a good cook.
Sie kennt keinen schlechten Koch.She knows no bad cook.
Dativ
Ich spreche mit dem alten Koch.I speak with the old cook.
Sie hilft einem jungen Koch.She helps a young cook.
Er vertraut keinem schlechten Koch.He trusts no bad cook.
Genitiv
Die Mütze des alten Kochs ist weiß.The hat of the old cook is white.
Die Rezepte eines guten Kochs sind lecker.The recipes of a good cook are delicious.
Der Ruf keines schlechten Kochs ist schlecht.The reputation of no bad cook is bad.

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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 Koch?

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

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

What does der Koch mean in English?

The German word der Koch translates to “cook” in English.

How do you decline der Koch?

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

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.