Why does the noun Mafia 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 Mafia
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | die Mafia | eine Mafia | keine Mafia |
| Akkusativ | die Mafia | eine Mafia | keine Mafia |
| Dativ | der Mafia | einer Mafia | keiner Mafia |
| Genitiv | der Mafia | einer Mafia | keiner Mafia |
| Nominativ | die Mafias | Mafias | keine Mafias |
| Akkusativ | die Mafias | Mafias | keine Mafias |
| Dativ | den Mafias | Mafias | keinen Mafias |
| Genitiv | der Mafias | Mafias | keiner Mafias |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Mafia in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Die italienische Mafia ist gefährlich.The Italian Mafia is dangerous. | Eine große Mafia existiert dort.A large Mafia exists there. | Keine kleine Mafia ist harmlos.No small Mafia is harmless. |
| Akkusativ | Man fürchtet die lokale Mafia.One fears the local Mafia. | Er bekämpft eine starke Mafia.He fights a strong Mafia. | Wir sehen keine harmlose Mafia.We see no harmless Mafia. |
| Dativ | Er gehört zu der sizilianischen Mafia.He belongs to the Sicilian Mafia. | Sie spricht mit einer mächtigen Mafia.She speaks with a powerful Mafia. | Mit keiner kleinen Mafia arbeitet er.He works with no small Mafia. |
| Genitiv | Die Macht der italienischen Mafia ist groß.The power of the Italian Mafia is great. | Die Struktur einer großen Mafia ist komplex.The structure of a large Mafia is complex. | Die Ziele keiner kleinen Mafia sind klar.The goals of no small Mafia are clear. |
| Nominativ | Die vielen Mafias sind mächtig.The many Mafias are powerful. | Neue Mafias entstehen überall.New Mafias emerge everywhere. | Keine schwachen Mafias sind bekannt.No weak Mafias are known. |
| Akkusativ | Sie untersuchen die alten Mafias.They investigate the old Mafias. | Wir kennen viele Mafias.We know many Mafias. | Ich sehe keine kleinen Mafias.I see no small Mafias. |
| Dativ | Er kämpft gegen den alten Mafias.He fights against the old Mafias. | Sie hilft vielen Mafias nicht.She doesn't help many Mafias. | Mit keinen schwachen Mafias redet er.He doesn't talk to any weak Mafias. |
| Genitiv | Die Methoden der vielen Mafias sind brutal.The methods of the many Mafias are brutal. | Die Geschichte starker Mafias ist lang.The history of strong Mafias is long. | Die Namen keiner schwachen Mafias sind bekannt.The names of no weak Mafias are 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 Mafia?
It is die Mafia. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Mafia 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 Mafia?
The plural form of die Mafia is die Mafias. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does die Mafia mean in English?
The German word die Mafia translates to “mafia” in English.
How do you decline die Mafia?
Like all German nouns, Mafia changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: die Mafia
- Akkusativ: die Mafia
- Dativ: der Mafia
- Genitiv: der Mafia
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.
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