Why does the noun Krieg 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 Krieg

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativder Kriegein Kriegkein Krieg
Akkusativden Kriegeinen Kriegkeinen Krieg
Dativdem Kriegeinem Kriegkeinem Krieg
Genitivdes Kriegeseines Kriegeskeines Krieges

Examples in context

Real sentences using Krieg in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Der schreckliche Krieg endete endlich.The terrible war finally ended.
Ein neuer Krieg ist ausgebrochen.A new war has broken out.
Kein wahrer Krieg bringt wahren Frieden.No war brings true peace.
Akkusativ
Sie haben den sinnlosen Krieg überlebt.They survived the senseless war.
Er hat einen brutalen Krieg erlebt.He experienced a brutal war.
Wir wollen keinen weiteren Krieg.We don't want another war.
Dativ
Nach dem langen Krieg herrschte Frieden.After the long war, peace prevailed.
Er wurde in einem furchtbaren Krieg verletzt.He was injured in a terrible war.
Mit keinem bloßen Krieg lässt sich das lösen.This cannot be solved with any mere war.
Genitiv
Die Folgen des letzten Krieges sind spürbar.The consequences of the last war are noticeable.
Das ist die Geschichte eines vergessenen Krieges.This is the story of a forgotten war.
Trotz keines neuen Krieges gab er auf.Despite no new war, he gave up.

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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 Krieg?

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

The German noun Krieg is categorized as Intermediate (B1) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.

What is the plural of der Krieg?

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

What does der Krieg mean in English?

The German word der Krieg translates to “war” in English.

How do you decline der Krieg?

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

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.