Why does the noun Mal 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 Mal
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | das Mal | ein Mal | kein Mal |
| Akkusativ | das Mal | ein Mal | kein Mal |
| Dativ | dem Mal | einem Mal | keinem Mal |
| Genitiv | des Mal | eines Mal | keines Mal |
| Nominativ | die Male | Male | keine Male |
| Akkusativ | die Male | Male | keine Male |
| Dativ | den Malen | Malen | keinen Malen |
| Genitiv | der Male | Male | keiner Male |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Mal in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Das erste Mal war besonders.The first time was special. | Ein einziges Mal reicht aus.One single time is enough. | Kein anderes Mal ist wie dieses.No other time is like this one. |
| Akkusativ | Ich mag das letzte Mal.I like the last time. | Er versucht ein neues Mal.He is trying a new time. | Ich brauche kein nächstes Mal.I need no next time. |
| Dativ | Bei dem ersten Mal war er weg.At the first time he was gone. | In einem fernen Mal geschah es.In a distant time it happened. | Mit keinem einzigen Mal war er zufrieden.He was satisfied with not a single time. |
| Genitiv | Die Freude des ersten Mals.The joy of the first time. | Der Beginn eines neuen Mals.The beginning of a new time. | Das Ende keines schlechten Mals.The end of no bad time. |
| Nominativ | Die letzten Male waren gut.The last times were good. | Drei Male sind genug.Three times are enough. | Keine weiten Male folgen.No further times will follow. |
| Akkusativ | Sie sieht die vielen Male.She sees the many times. | Wir hatten gute Male.We had good times. | Er plant keine neuen Male.He plans no new times. |
| Dativ | Nach den vielen Malen war er müde.After the many times he was tired. | Zu guten Malen kommt es selten.It rarely comes to good times. | Mit keinen anderen Malen ist es schwer.It is hard without other times. |
| Genitiv | Die Anzahl der vielen Male.The number of the many times. | Die Erinnerung schöner Male.The memory of beautiful times. | Der Grund keiner guten Male.The reason of no good times. |
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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 Mal?
It is das Mal. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Mal is neuter. You should always learn the article together with the noun to ensure your German grammar is correct.
What CEFR level is the word Mal?
The German noun Mal is categorized as Beginner (A1) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.
What is the plural of das Mal?
The plural form of das Mal is die Male. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does das Mal mean in English?
The German word das Mal translates to “time” in English.
How do you decline das Mal?
Like all German nouns, Mal changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: das Mal
- Akkusativ: das Mal
- Dativ: dem Mal
- Genitiv: des Mal
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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