Mensa

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

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

Q: What is the plural of die Mensa?

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

Q: What does die Mensa mean in English?

The German word die Mensa translates to “cafeteria” in English.

Q: How do you decline die Mensa?

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

cafeteria

Plural: die Mensen

Strong

Why does the noun Mensa 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 Mensa

How it changes across the four cases.

Case	Definite	Indefinite	Negative
Nominativ	die Mensa	eine Mensa	keine Mensa
Akkusativ	die Mensa	eine Mensa	keine Mensa
Dativ	der Mensa	einer Mensa	keiner Mensa
Genitiv	der Mensa	einer Mensa	keiner Mensa
Nominativ	die Mensen	Mensen	keine Mensen
Akkusativ	die Mensen	Mensen	keine Mensen
Dativ	den Mensen	Mensen	keinen Mensen
Genitiv	der Mensen	Mensen	keiner Mensen

Examples in context

Real sentences using Mensa in different cases.

Case	Definite	Indefinite	Negative
Nominativ	Die große Mensa ist voll.The large cafeteria is full.	Eine große Mensa ist praktisch.A large cafeteria is practical.	Keine Mensa ist hier in der Nähe.No cafeteria is near here.
Akkusativ	Ich besuche die große Mensa oft.I often visit the large cafeteria.	Ich suche eine große Mensa.I am looking for a large cafeteria.	Ich finde keine Mensa hier.I can't find any cafeteria here.
Dativ	Ich esse in der großen Mensa.I eat in the large cafeteria.	Ich esse in einer großen Mensa.I eat in a large cafeteria.	Ich esse in keiner Mensa.I don't eat in any cafeteria.
Genitiv	Das Essen der großen Mensa ist gut.The food of the large cafeteria is good.	Das Essen einer großen Mensa ist billig.The food of a large cafeteria is cheap.	Das Essen keiner Mensa ist schlecht.The food of no cafeteria is bad.
Nominativ	Die neuen Mensen sind modern.The new cafeterias are modern.	Neue Mensen sind teuer.New cafeterias are expensive.	Keine Mensen sind geöffnet.No cafeterias are open.
Akkusativ	Wir besuchen die neuen Mensen.We visit the new cafeterias.	Wir suchen neue Mensen.We are looking for new cafeterias.	Wir finden keine Mensen.We can't find any cafeterias.
Dativ	Wir essen in den neuen Mensen.We eat in the new cafeterias.	Wir essen in neuen Mensen.We eat in new cafeterias.	Wir essen in keinen Mensen.We don't eat in any cafeterias.
Genitiv	Die Preise der neuen Mensen sind hoch.The prices of the new cafeterias are high.	Die Preise neuer Mensen sind fair.The prices of new cafeterias are fair.	Die Preise keiner Mensen sind bekannt.The prices of no cafeterias 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 Mensa?

It is die Mensa. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Mensa 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 Mensa?

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

What does die Mensa mean in English?

The German word die Mensa translates to “cafeteria” in English.

How do you decline die Mensa?

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

Nominativ: die Mensa
Akkusativ: die Mensa
Dativ: der Mensa
Genitiv: der Mensa

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.