Why does the noun Lamm have the article das?

Nouns referring to young humans or animals are often neuter.

Examples

das Kind (child), das Baby (baby), das Lamm (lamb), das Kalb (calf), das Fohlen (foal), das Ferkel (piglet), das Küken (chick)

Exceptions

der Welpe (puppy - male), die Larve (larva)

Declension table for German noun Lamm

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativdas Lammein Lammkein Lamm
Akkusativdas Lammein Lammkein Lamm
Dativdem Lammeinem Lammkeinem Lamm
Genitivdes Lammeseines Lammeskeines Lammes

Examples in context

Real sentences using Lamm in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Das kleine Lamm schläft.The small lamb sleeps.
Ein Lamm frisst Gras.A lamb eats grass.
Kein Lamm spielt hier.No lamb plays here.
Akkusativ
Ich sehe das kleine Lamm.I see the small lamb.
Sie hat ein Lamm.She has a lamb.
Ich habe kein Lamm.I have no lamb.
Dativ
Ich helfe dem kleinen Lamm.I help the small lamb.
Er gibt einem Lamm Wasser.He gives water to a lamb.
Ich spreche mit keinem Lamm.I speak with no lamb.
Genitiv
Die Wolle des kleinen Lammes ist weich.The wool of the small lamb is soft.
Das Fell eines Lammes ist warm.The fur of a lamb is warm.
Der Name keines Lammes ist bekannt.The name of no lamb is known.

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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 Lamm?

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

What is the plural of das Lamm?

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

What does das Lamm mean in English?

The German word das Lamm translates to “lamb” in English.

How do you decline das Lamm?

Like all German nouns, Lamm changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
  • Nominativ: das Lamm
  • Akkusativ: das Lamm
  • Dativ: dem Lamm
  • Genitiv: des Lammes

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.