Why does the noun Mais 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 Mais

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativder Maisein Maiskein Mais
Akkusativden Maiseinen Maiskeinen Mais
Dativdem Maiseinem Maiskeinem Mais
Genitivdes Maiseseines Maiseskeines Maises

Examples in context

Real sentences using Mais in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Der frische Mais ist gesund.The fresh corn is healthy.
Ein gelber Mais liegt hier.A yellow corn lies here.
Kein alter Mais schmeckt gut.No old corn tastes good.
Akkusativ
Ich kaufe den frischen Mais.I buy the fresh corn.
Wir essen einen gelben Mais.We eat a yellow corn.
Ich mag keinen alten Mais nicht.I don't like old corn.
Dativ
Ich gebe dem frischen Mais Wasser.I give water to the fresh corn.
Er hilft einem gelben Mais sehr.He helps a yellow corn a lot.
Ich gebe keinem alten Mais Dünger.I give no fertilizer to old corn.
Genitiv
Der Preis des frischen Maises ist hoch.The price of the fresh corn is high.
Der Geruch eines gelben Maises ist stark.The smell of a yellow corn is strong.
Der Geschmack keines alten Maises ist gut.The taste of no old corn is good.

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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 Mais?

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

What is the plural of der Mais?

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

What does der Mais mean in English?

The German word der Mais translates to “corn” in English.

How do you decline der Mais?

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

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.