Leid

Q: Is it der, die, or das Leid?

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

Q: What is the plural of das Leid?

The noun Leid is typically used in the singular form (Singularetantum) or has a plural form identical to the singular.

Q: What does das Leid mean in English?

The German word das Leid translates to “sorrow, grief” in English.

Q: How do you decline das Leid?

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

sorrow, grief

Plural: die Leiden

Strong

Why does the noun Leid have the article das?

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 Leid

How it changes across the four cases.

Case	Definite	Indefinite	Negative
Nominativ	das Leid	ein Leid	kein Leid
Akkusativ	das Leid	ein Leid	kein Leid
Dativ	dem Leid	einem Leid	keinem Leid
Genitiv	des Leides	eines Leides	keines Leides
Nominativ	die Leiden	Leiden	keine Leiden
Akkusativ	die Leiden	Leiden	keine Leiden
Dativ	den Leiden	Leiden	keinen Leiden
Genitiv	der Leiden	Leiden	keiner Leiden

Examples in context

Real sentences using Leid in different cases.

Case	Definite	Indefinite	Negative
Nominativ	Das große Leid ist schwer.The great suffering is heavy.	Ein großes Leid kann heilen.A great suffering can heal.	Kein großes Leid ist nötig.No great suffering is necessary.
Akkusativ	Ich fühle das große Leid.I feel the great suffering.	Wir erleben ein großes Leid.We experience a great suffering.	Er hat kein großes Leid verdient.He has not deserved any great suffering.
Dativ	Ich begegne dem großen Leid.I encounter the great suffering.	Man hilft einem großen Leid.One helps a great suffering.	Ich gebe keinem großen Leid Raum.I give no great suffering space.
Genitiv	Die Ursache des großen Leides ist unklar.The cause of the great suffering is unclear.	Die Wirkung eines großen Leides ist tief.The effect of a great suffering is deep.	Der Sinn keines großen Leides ist erkennbar.The meaning of no great suffering is discernible.
Nominativ	Die großen Leiden sind oft verborgen.The great sufferings are often hidden.	Große Leiden können uns stärken.Great sufferings can strengthen us.	Keine großen Leiden sind hier zu sehen.No great sufferings are to be seen here.
Akkusativ	Ich fühle die großen Leiden.I feel the great sufferings.	Wir erleben große Leiden.We experience great sufferings.	Er hat keine großen Leiden verdient.He has not deserved any great sufferings.
Dativ	Ich begegne den großen Leiden.I encounter the great sufferings.	Man hilft großen Leiden.One helps great sufferings.	Ich gebe keinen großen Leiden Raum.I give no great sufferings space.
Genitiv	Die Ursache der großen Leiden ist unklar.The cause of the great sufferings is unclear.	Die Wirkung großer Leiden ist tief.The effect of great sufferings is deep.	Der Sinn keiner großen Leiden ist erkennbar.The meaning of no great sufferings is discernible.

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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 Leid?

It is das Leid. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Leid 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 Leid?

The noun Leid is typically used in the singular form (Singularetantum) or has a plural form identical to the singular.

What does das Leid mean in English?

The German word das Leid translates to “sorrow, grief” in English.

How do you decline das Leid?

Like all German nouns, Leid changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:

Nominativ: das Leid
Akkusativ: das Leid
Dativ: dem Leid
Genitiv: des Leides

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.