Why does the noun Lippen 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 Lippen

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativdie Lippeeine Lippekeine Lippe
Akkusativdie Lippeeine Lippekeine Lippe
Dativder Lippeeiner Lippekeiner Lippe
Genitivder Lippeeiner Lippekeiner Lippe

Examples in context

Real sentences using Lippen in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Die volle Lippe ist rot.The full lip is red.
Eine trockene Lippe tut weh.A dry lip hurts.
Keine rote Lippe ist trocken.No red lip is dry.
Akkusativ
Ich sehe die rote Lippe.I see the red lip.
Er hat eine schöne Lippe.He has a beautiful lip.
Ich habe keine große Lippe gesehen.I haven't seen a big lip.
Dativ
Ich gebe der trockenen Lippe Balsam.I give the dry lip balm.
Mit einer schmalen Lippe ist das schwer.That is difficult with a narrow lip.
Ich helfe keiner kranken Lippe.I don't help any sick lip.
Genitiv
Die Farbe der vollen Lippe ist rot.The color of the full lip is red.
Der Schmerz einer trockenen Lippe ist stark.The pain of a dry lip is strong.
Die Größe keiner großen Lippe ist bekannt.The size of no big lip 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 Lippen?

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

What is the plural of die Lippen?

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

What does die Lippen mean in English?

The German word die Lippen translates to “lips” in English.

How do you decline die Lippen?

Like all German nouns, Lippen changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
  • Nominativ: die Lippe
  • Akkusativ: die Lippe
  • Dativ: der Lippe
  • Genitiv: der Lippe

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.